A-Rod sits as Abreu's slam powers Yankees past White Sox 9-5

[April 23, 2008]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Bobby Abreu hit a grand slam in the seventh inning, Chien-Ming Wang earned his 50th career victory and the New York Yankees did just fine without A-Rod, beating the Chicago White Sox 9-5 on Tuesday night.

Abreu connected for his seventh career grand slam off Octavio Dotel with two outs in the seventh to rally New York from a 3-2 deficit. It was his sixth homer in only 14 games at U.S. Cellular Field.

Johnny Damon hit a three-run homer off reliever Matt Thornton in the eighth to make it 9-4, and Jason Giambi had a solo shot in the second.

Wang (4-0) worked six innings, allowing 10 hits and three runs, to become the first Yankees starter to win his first four decisions since Kevin Brown won his first five in 2004.

Alex Rodriguez, who strained his quadriceps Sunday in Baltimore, missed his first game this season. The Yankees' star was in Miami for the birth of his second child and will rejoin the team Thursday when his injury will be re-evaluated.

Joba Chamberlain, in the headlines the last two days after Yankees co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner said the hard-throwing 22-year-old should be in the rotation and not the bullpen, relieved with the bases loaded and one out in the seventh.

With New York leading 6-3, he struck out Carlos Quentin, walked Joe Crede to force in a run and then got Juan Uribe to foul out to catcher Jorge Posada to end the inning. Chamberlain allowed a hit in 1 2-3 innings.

Jose Contreras (1-2) took a 3-2 lead into the top of the seventh, but walked Morgan Ensberg and gave up a single to Melky Cabrera before Boone Logan relieved. Damon beat out an infield single to load the bases before Dotel came in and struck out Derek Jeter for the second out.

But Abreu lifted a 2-0 pitch over the fence in left-center.

Contreras, 0-3 against the Yankees last season, gave up seven hits and was charged with four runs in 6 1-3 innings.

The White Sox took a 3-2 lead in the fifth when Orlando Cabrera singled, Jim Thome walked and Paul Konerko hit an RBI double.

Damon's leadoff ground ball went off Konerko's glove and down the right-field line for a double in the first. He moved to third on Abreu's single and scored on Hideki Matsui's fielder's choice grounder.

Giambi, batting just .109 entering the game, hit his third homer leading off the second for a 2-0 Yankees lead off Contreras.

Chicago bunched three hits off Wang to tie it in the bottom of the inning as Quentin singled, Crede doubled and Uribe hit a two-run double.

A.J. Pierzynski homered off Kyle Farnsworth in the ninth.

Notes: In his 85th career start, Wang became the quickest major leaguer to record 50 wins as a starter since Dwight Gooden got No. 50 in his 82nd start for the Mets on June 29, 1986, against the Cubs. Wang is also the fastest Yankees starter to 50 wins since Ron Guidry got there in his 82nd start in 1979 against Texas. ... Posada made his first start behind the plate since April 8 because of a sore right arm. ... White Sox pitchers gave up three homers Tuesday night after yielding just five in the first 18 games. ... Attendance at U.S. Cellular Field was 25,012. Another New York-Chicago matchup, eight miles away at Wrigley Field on Tuesday afternoon, attracted 40,503 to watch the Mets and Cubs. ... Wang is 3-0 in his career against the White Sox in four career starts, all in Chicago.

[Associated Press; By RICK GANO]

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