Yankees close in on Red Sox
NEW YORK: Andy Pettitte won his 200th career game to give the New York Yankees a 2-1 victory against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday, closing the gap on American League East leaders Boston to a game and a half.
The victory, New York's 12th in 14 games, came as the Red Sox were lost 6-1 to Toronto, its fifth loss in six games.
Yankees reliever Mariano Rivera worked out of a bases-loaded ninth-inning jam to preserve the win and gain his 30th save of the season.
The 35-year-old Pettitte (14-8) pitched seven-plus innings, striking out four and walking two while allowing seven hits. He became the 27th left-hander to win 200 Major League games.
"I've got 200 wins now because he (Rivera) is as great of a closer as he is," Pettitte told reporters.
"I wouldn't want anybody else closing my games, I promise you that."
Hideki Matsui homered in the second inning and Doug Mientkiewicz scored on a wild pitch in the fifth for the Yankees' runs.
Melvin Mora drove in the Orioles' run with a single in the sixth inning.
"I'm glad we were able to do that, and get a big win for Andy," Rivera told reporters. "That's the guy that you want to give everything you've got to play behind him."
Agencies
(China Daily 09/21/2007 page23)
