Bronx, NY - Hideki Matsui hit two of eight New York home runs, but one was not from Alex Rodriguez, as the Yankees clobbered the Chicago White Sox, 16-3, to start a three-game series.
Bobby Abreu, Robinson Cano, Melky Cabrera, Jorge Posada, Johnny Damon, and Shelley Duncan also went deep as the Yankees equaled a club record for homers. They also had eight June 28, 1939 versus Philadelphia in the opener of a doubleheader.
Rodriguez remained at 499 career homers, going hitless in five at-bats. He flied out to right in the first, then to deep center in third, and was robbed of an extra-base hit by Jermaine Dye, who crashed into the wall in right in the fourth. Rodriguez, who also flied out in the sixth and lined out to center in the seventh, is mired in an 0-for-16 slump since his last hit, a homer July 25 at Kansas City.
Posada had four hits and scored three times, while Matsui had three RBI and crossed the plate four times, as the Yankees posted their second straight victory.
Mike Mussina (6-7) allowed six hits and three runs and fanned six over six innings to get the victory.
The problems continued for Jose Contreras (5-14), who leads the majors in defeats. He surrendered eight hits, including three homers, and seven runs in 2 2/3 innings. The veteran right-hander has lost seven consecutive starts. He’s been atrocious in the last three outings, having given up 30 hits and 26 earned runs in that span.
Juan Uribe clubbed a three-run homer for the White Sox, losers of two straight.
The White Sox also lost their cool. Manager Ozzie Guillen was ejected by home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi in the bottom of the first inning for arguing balls and strikes. First baseman Paul Konerko was thrown out by Cuzzi in the top of the sixth inning after being called out on strikes.
