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Mussina goes for win No. 18 in rubber match with M's

Sun 7th, September 2008

(Sports Network) - Mike Mussina takes aim at win No. 18 this afternoon when the New York Yankees play the rubber match of their three-game series with the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field.

Mussina has surprisingly been the Yankees' most consistent starter this season, going 17-7 with a 3.39 earned run average. He won his fourth straight decision on Tuesday against Tampa Bay, surrendering just two runs and 10 hits in six innings, giving him 17 wins on the year for the first time since 2003.

The 39-year-old right-hander, who has never reached 20 wins in a season, was just 11-10 a year ago with a 5.15 ERA. He last won 18 games back in 2002.

Mussina has enjoyed tremendous success against the Mariners over the course of his career, going 19-5 against them with a 3.77 ERA in 29 games, 28 of which have been starts.

After getting nearly no-hit in the opener of this series, the Yankees bounced back on Saturday, as Bobby Abreu missed the cycle by a double and had a solo home run, finishing 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored, helping his team to a 7-4 victory.

Jason Giambi went 3-for-5 with a solo blast, two RBI and a pair of runs scored as well for the Yankees, who have won four of six and moved within 7 1/2 games of the Boston Red Sox for the wild card.

Sidney Ponson (8-5) lasted six innings and yielded three runs on five hits while taking the win. Mariano Rivera recorded the final four outs to secure his 33rd save of the year.

Raul Ibanez went 2-for-3 with a two-run blast and drove in all of the runs for Seattle, which has dropped three of its last four contests.

Sean Green (4-5) absorbed the loss in relief of starter Ryan Rowland-Smith, who gave up three runs on seven hits and four walks in 6 1/3 innings.

Seattle will pin its hopes today on veteran right-hander Carlos Silva, who is 4-14 with a 6.53 ERA. Silva did not get a decision on Monday in Texas, but did not pitch well, as he allowed six runs and 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings of his team's 12-6 win.

Over his last nine starts Silva is 0-5 with an 8.40 ERA.

Silva has faced the Yankees six times and is 1-4 against them with a 9.20 ERA.

New York has won seven of its eight matchups with the Mariners this season and has won nine of 10 in the series dating back to last season.