On the Yankees beat

Hey everybody, Darren here with the live blog this afternoon. It's a gorgeous, but sultry day out there, if you're heading out drink plenty of water. Dig this, Yankees fans: Mike Mussina actually got some run support in yesterday's 7-1 victory over Oakland. Joba's turn today, and, interestingly, he has been very vocal about how well he's pitched in eight starts (2.81 ERA), that having one win comes from a lack of run support. Pretty bold for a guy who is 22-years-old.

If the Yankees are going to get any run support it's going to have to come off of Oakland starter Sean Gallagher, who you'll remember was sent from the Chicago Cubs to Oakland in the trade for Rich Harden. He's 4-4 this season with a 4.25 ERA. We're almost ready for the first pitch, stay tuned!

Top 1st -- Joba turns a nice double play, and then strikes out Jack Cust to end the inning. Hasn't been terrific at fielding his position, and though he still needs to get his footwork ttogether, he didn't look half bad.

Bottom 1st -- Jeter failed to reach, Abreu walked and A-Rod, coming off a phenomenal night, couldn't advance him. Posada struck out. This is a typical first inning when Joba is on the mound. Two runners stranded on base. No surprises.

Top 2nd -- Bobby Crosby nearly hit into a double play, but Joba struck out Mark Ellis for the second out of the inning. Joba's fastball has got some zip on it today. Murton reaches on a single, but Wes Bankston struck out too. Three strikeouts for Joba so far. No runs.

Bottom 2nd --.Cano reaches, Wilson Betemit hit a double to right-center and there were two on with no outs. Melky Cabrera hit an RBI-single to drive in Cano. Ground ball by Brett Gardener hits Gallagher, scores Betemit. Gardener makes it all the way to second. To set up for the big inning by the top of the order, right? Jeter chased a high fastball and struck out, Abreu struck out and A-Rod struck out. Yikes. At least they got two runs out of it. Yankees 2, A's 0

Top 3rd -- Joba's slider continues to be tough on lefties, as he strikes out Hannahan, but Ryan Sweeney reaches on a single. Joba threw out the lead runner and didn't get the double play because of bad communication about who was covering second between Cano and Jeter. Joba strikes out Cust to end the inning.

Bottom 3rd -- Gallagher sets down Giambi, Posada, but the white hot Cano pounds a double to left center. Gallagher walks Betemit, but retires Melky to end the inning.

Top 4th -- Joba rolls through the fourth, setting down all three batters.

Bottom 4th -- Gardener reaches with a nice base hit, Jeter drove one deep to fly out. Gardener almost was caught into run down, but reaches second on an obstruction call. Bankston was charged with an error. A-Rod and Giambi both pop out for the second and third outs.

Top 5th -- Murton leads of the inning with a double, Bankston bloops a single to center and Joba strikes out Hannahan -- his seventh. Sweeney hit a line drive to score Murton for Oakland's first run of the game. Joba walks the bases loaded to Jack Cust, but Joba gets out of the inning on a shallow pop fly by Carlos Gonzalez. Yankees 2, A's 1

Bottom 5th -- Posada leads off with a single, Cano is retired for the first time today. Betemit hit a line drive to center that was dropped by Gonzalez, but Melky hits it to him for the next out. Gallagher strikes out Gardener to end the inning.

Top 6th -- Joba retires the side in order. He will get his second win if the Yankees maintain the lead.

Bottom 6th -- Yankees strand two. Again. Jeter reached, but Abreu lined out to center. A-Rod grounded out, and Giambi walked, but Posada couldn't do anything with runners on.

Top 7th -- Bankston reaches on a single, followed by Hannahan who popped up a bunt. Jose Veras, who has been terrific, strikes out Sweeney. Suzuki hit a double to advance Bankston to third. Veras walked Cust to load the bases, then throws a wild pitch which scored Bankston to tie the score at two. A rare hiccup by the bullpen.

Bottom 7th -- Cano hits a would-be base hit right to Crosby at short. Betemit grounds out, and Melky is also retired. Still a tie game!

Top 8th -- Kyle Farnsworth comes in and retires the A's in order. Yankees need runs, but no win for Joba.

Bottom 8th -- Two very nice defensive plays get Gardener and Jeter. Abreu walks for the third time this game. A-Rod struck out for the third time as well. No runs!

Top 9th -- Ryan Sweeney drives in Rajai Davis for the go ahead run. Both Sweeney and Davis steal second. Mariano is officially on the hook for the loss, although he struck out batters for all three outs.

Bottom 9th -- Justin Christian pinch ran for Giambi who walked, but falls down trying to steal a base. Posada grounds out, and Robbie gets his third hit of the game with a double to left center field. Betemit gets a base hit to score Cano. Melky then got another base hit to advance Betemit to third. With runners on first and third and two outs, Brett Gardener pops up to end the inning. We're going to extras.

Top 10th -- Edwar Ramirez comes on for the tenth, and with two on and one out, he strikes out Bankston and Davis. The change up is definitely working. Onto the second half of the inning we go.

Bottom 10th -- Jeter gets the leadoff single to start the inning to put the winning run on base. The Yankees worked two on with one out to set the table for Richie Sexson, who struck out on a high fastball.

Top 11th -- Edwar Ramirez is back in the game for the Yankees. The change up is really going good, but we've likely seen the end of him if they Yankees don't score this inning. We'll be saying hello to Mr. Hawkins or Mr. Robertson.

Bottom 11th -- Robbie has been lights out -- hits a leadoff single up the middle. Betemit advances the runner with a nice bunt. But they can't do anything with it -- Lenny DiNardo retired the side and we're officially moving on to the 12th.

Top 12th -- Crosby reaches on a base hit and then Roberstson walked Mark Ellis. With two on and one out, Robertson struck out Murton looking. Robertson got Emil Brown to ground out to end the inning.

Bottom 12th -- Jeter leads off the inning with a line drive to center. Abreu hit a dribbler in front of the plate, and was called out by a questionable call. DiNardo intentionally walked A-Rod to face Sexson with one out and two on. Sexson walks, and with the bases loaded DiNardo hits Jose Molina with a pitch. Talk about taking one for the team. Game over. Yankees 4, A's 3