Thu Aug 7 10:58:05 2008

Comment | Email | Print

Yanks' Mussina goes for 15th win in finale with Rangers

---

(Sports Network) - Mike Mussina will attempt to become the latest member of the American League's 15-win club when the veteran hurler takes the mound for the New York Yankees in tonight's finale of a four-game series with the host Texas Rangers.

Mussina, who has never won 20 games in a season during his accomplished 18- year career, can join Cleveland ace Cliff Lee as the first AL pitchers to 15 victories this evening. Arizona's Brandon Webb tops the majors with 16 wins so far this year.

The 39-year-old is coming off an impressive showing against the Angels on Saturday, when Mussina yielded two runs -- one earned -- and just two hits over seven innings to lead New York to an 8-2 triumph. Over his last six starts, the right-hander is 4-1 with a 2.37 earned run average.

Mussina has faced Texas 36 times previously and owns a 17-13 record along with a 3.74 ERA lifetime against the Rangers. He held Texas to two runs and struck out a season-best eight over six innings in a July 30 matchup at Yankee Stadium, but wound up on the losing end of a 2-1 decision.

Scott Feldman outdueled Mussina in that above-mentioned encounter and will try to duplicate that performance for the Rangers tonight. The converted reliever surrendered just one run and four hits through 5 2/3 innings to gain the win in his first career start against New York.

Feldman has had an up-and-down overall season for Texas and enters tonight's tilt with a 4-4 record and 4.97 ERA in 19 games (17 starts). He was last in action on Saturday and suffered a home loss to Toronto after giving up four runs (3 earned) in 5 1/3 innings.

Texas won the first two games of this set before the Yankees came through with a much-needed 5-3 victory on Wednesday. Ex-Ranger Sidney Ponson worked 6 1/3 solid innings to beat his former team, while Derek Jeter went 2-for-4 with two RBI to pace New York offensively.

Ponson (7-2) gave up three runs on six hits for the Yankees, who entered last night's clash having lost seven of their last 10 games. Mariano Rivera earned his 27th save of the year with a scoreless ninth.

New York, which trails rival Boston by 3 1/2 games for the AL Wild Card lead, also received a solo homer from Jason Giambi and an RBI double from Wilson Betemit.

Chris Davis finished 2-for-4 with a two-run single for Texas. Rangers rookie Tommy Hunter was roughed up for five runs on eight hits over 4 1/3 innings in his second major league start.

Both teams had key players leave Wednesday's contest following a home-plate collision in the second inning. Rangers outfielder David Murphy suffered a strained knee ligament after running into Yankees catcher Ivan Rodriguez, who bruised his knee on the play.

Rodriguez is considered day-to-day with his injury, but Murphy is expected to miss at least a couple of weeks.

Texas has won four of six from the Yankees this year, but New York had taken 20 of 26 matchups against the Rangers the three previous seasons, including 11 of 12 games played in Arlington over that time.