NEW YORK (AP) – Johnny Damon hit a pair of home runs and Mike Mussina won his fifth straight decision, leading the New York Yankees over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 4-2 Sunday.
Immediately after the game, the Yankees acquired All-Star right fielder Bobby Abreu and pitcher Cory Lidle from Philadelphia for four minor league prospects – including 2005 first-round draft pick C.J. Henry.
Mussina (13-3) allowed two runs and five hits in seven innings. He struck out eight, walked two and has not lost since June 15 against Cleveland.
Kyle Farnsworth pitched a scoreless eighth and Mariano Rivera worked the ninth for his 26th save in 28 chances as the Yankees bounced back after Tampa Bay’s 19-6 win Saturday.
Damon hit his 12th homer off James Shields (4-5) in the fifth inning to give New York a 3-2 lead. He connected again in the seventh. It was his tenth career multihomer game and second this season.
Shields yielded four runs and eight hits in seven innings. He struck out six and walked one.
The Yankees got to Shields in the third inning for two runs. Miguel Cairo singled with one out and moved to second on a single by Damon. Derek Jeter followed with a two-run double to right-center.
Jeter took third on the relay throw and Shields intentionally walked Jason Giambi. Shields escaped further damage by striking out Alex Rodriguez and getting Jorge Posada to ground into a fielder’s choice.
Tampa Bay came right back in the fourth.
Travis Lee singled with one out, moved up on a walk to Jorge Cantu and scored on a single by Jonny Gomes. Then Tomas Perez’s seventh straight hit scored Cantu with the tying run. Mussina then struck out Josh Paul to end the inning.
Notes: The Yankees also sent reliever Matt Smith, catcher Jesus Sanchez and right-hander Carlos Monasterios to the Phillies in the trade. … Perez followed his five straight hits Saturday with hits his first two times up Sunday. The seven straight hits were one short of the Tampa Ray record held by Aubrey Huff. … Attendance was 54,102, the 33rd sellout of the season.
AP-ES-07-30-06 1611EDT
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