The house that Moose built

Mussina blows away former team with three-hit shutout

Mike Mussina improved to 6-2 against in nine career starts against the team he pitched for from 1991-2000. AP

BALTIMORE (AP) -- The last time Mike Mussina pitched at Camden Yards, he didn't make it out of the third inning.

This time, he was marvelous.

Mussina pitched a three-hitter to win his fourth straight decision, and the New York Yankees completed a four-game sweep of the Baltimore Orioles with an 8-0 victory Sunday.

Mussina (14-6) allowed only one runner past first base in his 21st career shutout. The right-hander struck out nine and walked none in his first complete game of the season and 52nd of his career.

It was a stark contrast from his performance on July 1, when he gave up five runs and eight hits. It was also an extension of his outing Tuesday, when he blanked Kansas City over eight innings in a 6-0 victory.

"You go through stretches where it doesn't seem like you ever get a break. Then you go through stretches where everything goes your way," Mussina said.

Bechler's widow spreads ashes at Camden Yards BALTIMORE -- The widow of Orioles pitcher Steve Bechler spread her husband's ashes on the mound and in the bullpen at Camden Yards on Sunday. Steve Bechler died of heatstroke one day after collapsing during a spring training workout on Feb. 18 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He was 23. With several Orioles and team officials in attendance, Kiley Bechler carefully laid down the ashes about an hour after Baltimore's 8-0 loss to the New York Yankees. "It's something I discussed with his brothers. They all agreed this would be the best place," she said. Click here for full story.

"I'm throwing the ball pretty well. I feel good," he said. "I got a couple hit today right at people; you get breaks when things are going right."

He retired his last 14 batters, five on strikeouts.

"The way this game goes, especially against this team, they either put the ball in play or ... you just never know," Mussina said.

Karim Garcia went 3-for-3 with a homer and three RBIs, and Derek Jeter had three hits for the Yankees, who have won 14 of their last 16 games against Baltimore.

The victory enabled New York to go 5-2 on a trip that started with two losses in three games in Kansas City.

"What started out as not so good of a road trip ended up as a heck of a road trip," manager Joe Torre said.

New York hit eight home runs and outscored the Orioles 27-13 in its first four-game sweep in Baltimore since May 2001.

"The first three games were tight, where a break here or there makes it go the other way," Orioles manager Mike Hargrove said. "Today was all about Mike Mussina. I don't know if there are very many people in the league who would be successful against him today."

Baltimore has lost a season-high seven straight to fall nine games under .500, tying a season high. The Orioles fell to 2-6 against Mussina, who left for New York in November 2000 after a 10-year run in Baltimore.

"He was hitting both sides of the plate today. This was the best I've seen him pitch," said Deivi Cruz, who went 1-for-3. "Every pitch he wanted to make, he made."

Mussina has won three straight starts and is unbeaten in six outings since July 12.

"He certainly looked very relaxed. He gave us a tremendous effort," Torre said.

The Yankees got a first-inning run off Rodrigo Lopez (5-8) when Alfonso Soriano hit a leadoff double and scored on a single by Jeter.

New York went up 4-0 in the fourth. After Jeter led off with a single on an 0-2 pitch and Jason Giambi walked, Hideki Matsui hit a run-scoring groundout. Lopez then issued a two-out intentional walk to Jorge Posada before Aaron Boone and Garcia delivered RBI singles.

Lopez allowed four runs and six hits in four innings. His eight losses are just one fewer than he had all last season, when the right-hander went 15-9 and finished second in AL Rookie of the Year balloting.

Garcia homered off Rick Bauer in the seventh. Five of Garcia's nine home runs this season have come against the Orioles.

"It's the luck of the draw," Garcia said. "I see the ball good against them when I get the opportunity to play."

Bauer issued a bases-loaded walk in the eighth before Boone hit a sacrifice fly and Garcia doubled in a run.

Notes: New York released 3B Todd Zeile, who hit .210 in 66 games, and called up RHP Jorge De Paula from Class AAA Columbus. Zeile became expendable with the July 31 acquisition of Boone. ... Boone has six RBIs in his last three games after getting only one in his first 12 games with New York. ... Soriano is 6-for-10 lifetime against Lopez. ... Orioles rookie Jack Cust struck out three times, capping a horrid weekend in which he was tagged out after falling down during a rundown to end the game Saturday.

 

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