BRONX, NY – There is no telling how long this will continue and the New York Yankees will continue to say they are not looking at the standings or the scoreboard. They picked up their eighth straight win and improved to a season high 22 games over .500 taking the second game of a four game series over the Oakland Athletics, 8-3 Friday evening in the Bronx.
It was he Yankees 21st win in their last 26 games and they retained their 2-1/2 game lead over second place Boston in the AL East. Right hander pitcher Joba Chamberlain (6-2) won his third straight decision He went seven innings, allowed two hit and a run. He did not allow a hit to the last 20 batters faced following Ryan Sweeney’s second inning single.
Derek Jeter recorded his team high 19th game of three or more hits and Melky Cabrera recorded a season high tying three hits for the third time, going 3-for-4. Phil Coke and David Robertson followed Chamberlain.
“He has strikeout stuff and learning as he goes,” said Yankees manager Joe Girardi. Yankees starters have now gone 6-0 with a 2.35 ERA in eight games since the All-Star break and have held their opponents to three earned runs or less in each outing.
Game three of the series is Saturday afternoon in the Bronx at 1:05pm. Left hander Andy Pettite (8-5) opposes Athletics left hander Gio Gonzalez (1-2).