Yankees finish 9-1 homestand with win over A's
Photo credit: David Pokress/David Pokress | Derek Jeter strokes a two-run single in the 6th inning. (Photo by David Pokress)
Galleries
Photos: Yankees vs. A's
The Yankees capped a 9-1 homestand with a 7-5 win over the A's, thanks to a two-run single by Derek Jeter to erase a 5-4 deficit in the sixth and a strong performance by the bullpen - which included a return to a clutch eighth-inning role for Brian Bruney.
Phil Coke (2-3) could not preserve a 4-3 lead when he relieved Sergio Mitre with one on and no outs in the sixth. Coke got two outs on a fly and a fielder's choice, but light-hitting Mark Ellis pulled a two-run homer to left to put the A's in front.
But the Yankees quickly got the lead back off A's starter Dallas Braden (7-9), the rally started by Cody Ransom's second double of the game to put two runners in scoring position with one out. Ransom started at third to give Alex Rodriguez the day off.
Jeter hung in on a first-pitch curve and singled to center to put the Yankees ahead by a run. Braden picked Jeter off with a terrific snap throw but Johnny Damon doubled and Mark Teixeira singled to give the Yankees a two-run cushion.
Phil Hughes came on and overpowered the A's in the seventh, striking out Scott Hairston and Jack Cust with high heat. Hughes fanned Kurt Suzuki to start the eighth but got into trouble, walking Ryan Sweeney and then allowing a double to Daric Barton to put the tying runs in scoring position.
Joe Girardi went to Bruney, the former eighth-inning guy, to return to his old role. At least for one batter, anyway - Bruney struck out Ellis with a 96-mph fastball and was immediately lifted for Mariano Rivera.
Rivera got pinch-hitter Nomar Garciaparra on a weak bouncer back to the mound, then cruised through a perfect ninth for his 29th save.
Mitre was not especially sharp, allowing four straight one-out hits in the first that led to a pair of A's runs. But his offense bailed him out in the bottom of the first, with Hideki Matsui's run-scoring single and Robinson Cano's three-run double off Braden putting the Yankees in front 4-2.
Ellis delivered a sacrifice fly in the third to make it 4-3 and Mitre allowed the leadoff batter to reach base in each of his last four innings of work, but three double-play grounders helped keep the damage in check.
The Yankees now head off on a nine-game, three-city road trip with a 2 1/2 game lead on the Red Sox, who lost at home on Sunday.
