Giambi homers, Pettitte sparkles in Yanks' 2-1 win

[July 21, 2008]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Andy Pettitte outpitched Oakland All-Star Justin Duchscherer, getting just enough run support from Jason Giambi's homer and a sacrifice fly by Alex Rodriguez to help the New York Yankees hold off the Athletics 2-1 on Sunday for a three-game sweep.

The Yankees (53-45) won their seventh straight at home and climbed a season-best eight games over .500, entering a three-game series against Minnesota beginning Monday night. Their winning streak at Yankee Stadium is their longest since last September.

The Athletics have dropped five straight, managing just nine runs in the process.

Perhaps accustomed to steamy afternoons in his native Texas, Pettitte (11-7) was sharp from the start. He gave up only four hits in eight innings, matching his longest outing of the year, and struck out nine without a walk.

Pettitte only faced more than three batters in the third and sixth before turning it over to Mariano Rivera, who worked a wild ninth for his 24th save in 24 chances.

Ryan Sweeney singled with one out and Bobby Crosby followed with a high fly to right that gave Bobby Abreu trouble as he looked up into the sun. Abreu made the grab -- momentarily -- and then dropped the ball.

First base umpire Hunter Wendelstedt ruled that Abreu never caught the ball, and the right fielder immediately tried to get Sweeney -- who had retreated to first -- at second base for the forceout.

His throw was high, though, and Rodriguez alertly cut it off near shortstop and tossed to Derek Jeter in time to get Sweeney.

Rajai Davis, pinch running for Crosby, tried to steal second moments later, and Jose Molina delivered a strong throw for the final out.

Duchscherer (10-6), who was so ill during Tuesday's All-Star game that he could barely pitch, lasted seven innings and gave up seven hits. The American League's ERA leader still hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in a game this season.

The teams breezed along in 2 hours, 26 minutes on a sweltering 92-degree afternoon, a day after playing 4 hours, 45 minutes in a 12-inning marathon.

There was a brief drizzle in the third inning, but all it did was ramp up the humidity on a day when just about everybody was searching for shade and water.

Pettitte baffled one of the AL's worst hitting teams with a combination of fastballs and cutters.

The only run he allowed came in the sixth when Jack Hannahan hit a broken-bat double that just stayed fair down the right-field line. Mark Ellis laid down a sacrifice bunt and Sweeney -- who had the A's only two RBIs in a 4-3 loss on Saturday -- followed with a single.

The Yankees scored first when Jeter hit a one-out double that bounced over the center-field wall in the third. Abreu moved him up with a single, and Rodriguez hit a high fly to right. The throw to the plate from Sweeney was just up the line and Jeter scored standing up.

Giambi followed in the sixth inning with his 20th homer, barely clearing the 314-foot sign down the right-field line. He's 6-for-8 in his career against Duchscherer after also walking twice.

The A's right-hander wound up with four strikeouts and three walks. It was only the second time in his last 17 appearances that he's walked more than two batters in a game.

Notes: Republican presidential candidate John McCain took in the game as a guest of former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani. ... Yankees OF-DH Johnny Damon (sprained left shoulder) plans to begin throwing Monday, manager Joe Girardi said. OF-DH Hideki Matsui (sore left knee) also will be examined Monday and a decision on whether he needs surgery could come Tuesday. ... A's closer Huston Street had a lousy Saturday. After blowing his fifth save, someone told Street that he'd been traded to Milwaukee -- merely a rumor that began on a blog. "It was a tough couple hours," Street said.

[Associated Press; By DAVE SKRETTA]

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