Despite rebounding from a 43-pitch second inning by blanking the Yankees in the third and fourth, Dustin McGowan never made it out of a three-run fifth, taking his 10th loss of the season after setting a career high with six walks in his shortest start since June 19. Matt Stairs hit a two-run homer in the eighth, but Adam Lind struck out as the go-ahead run to end the inning.
Mike Mussina allowed his first runs as a starter in September in a three-run second inning, but he allowed nothing over the next five frames to win his third consecutive start. Catcher Jose Molina drove in three runs to help the Yankees reduce their magic number to clinch a postseason berth to two.
BASERUNNING SB: Jeter (14, 2nd base off McGowan/Zaun). CS: Rodriguez (4, 2nd base by McGowan/Zaun), Abreu 2 (8, 2nd base by League/Zaun, 3rd base by Kennedy/Thigpen).
FIELDING Outfield assists: Cabrera (Zaun at home). Pickoffs: Molina (Rios at 1st base).