Yankees sweep Astros but lose Wang

Source: Agencies  |   2008-6-17  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

THE New York Yankees completed a three-game sweep of the Houston Astros with a 13-0 win on Sunday but lost pitcher Wang Chien-ming to a foot injury.

The Yankees ace got a rare chance to hit in the game against a National League opponent and it was in running the bases that he injured his foot.

He pulled up rounding third base on a two-run single by Derek Jeter during New York's eight-run sixth inning. Wang managed to hop across the plate to score on the play but he pointed to his right foot and after being attended to by a trainer was helped off the field.

Wang was on crutches with a soft case on his foot as he addressed reporters through a Yankee spokesperson.

"I feel sore," Wang said. "Of course I'm disappointed."

He will undergo an MRI exam to determine the extent of the injury and New York manager Joe Girardi expects his ace to be out of action for a few weeks. "We'll have the tests tomorrow and then decide what the best plan of action is," he said. "You're going to go through injuries and you've got to find a way to get it done."

The Yankees are playing their best baseball of the season, getting to four games over .500 with their fourth straight win and seventh in nine games.

Wang (8-2) pitched five shutout innings, allowing six hits with three strikeouts and no walks to get credit for the victory. Four relievers completed the seven-hitter.

The Chinese Taipei pitcher is 5-0 in seven road starts this season

In other interleague matches, it was: Indians 7, Padres 3; Red Sox 9, Reds 0; Rockies 5, White Sox 3; Cubs 7, Blue Jays 4; Rangers 8, Mets 7 (first game); Mets 4, Rangers 2 (second game); Tigers 5, Dodgers 4; Marlins 9, Rays 3; Brewers 4, Twins 2; Pirates 5, Orioles 4 (in 10 innings); Royals 8, Diamondbacks 3; and Nationals 6, Mariners 2.

In the National League, it was: Cardinals 7, Phillies 6 (in 10 innings).

In Houston, Alex Rodriguez hit a three-run homer and Jorge Posada also homered for the Yankees, who had 15 hits off four Houston pitchers, including loser Roy Oswalt (5-7).

Rodriguez hit his 185th homer as a Yankee, tying Paul O'Neill for 16th on the franchise's all-time list. Rodriguez reached 1,540 RBI on the home run, passing Joe DiMaggio and tying Willie Stargell for 40th all-time.

Oswalt gave up seven runs on eight hits and matched season highs in walks (four) and pitches (117).

The Astros have lost nine of 11 games and the series loss was their sixth straight. "Today, we didn't even show up, didn't even compete," Houston manager Cecil Cooper said. "A total embarrassment."