Wang gives boost

NEW YORK -- Pitching with the poise of an experienced ace, Chien-Ming Wang used his buzzsaw of a sinker to stop the New York Yankees' slide.

Wang shut down the Cleveland Indians' powerful lineup, Robinson Cano homered off hard-luck loser Paul Byrd, and New York ended its four-game skid by squeaking out a 1-0 victory last night.

``We needed to win that game," Derek Jeter said. ``Wang deserves all the credit."

Meeting for the first time this season, the Indians and Yankees entered tied for the major league lead with 359 runs apiece.

But Wang and Byrd silenced the offenses in an old-fashioned pitchers' duel, and New York's bullpen closed it out.

``That's one thing that has never changed in this game -- pitching can control the hitting," Yankees manager Joe Torre said.

After stranding five runners in his first two at-bats, Cano connected on a 1-1 pitch from Byrd (5-5) with one out in the sixth, sending a drive over the right-field fence.

``It was a hanging curveball," Byrd said. ``He wasn't hitting anything soft off me, particularly. So I tried to locate it down and away. I just missed it. It's a shame that was the game."

The Indians had their best chance in the top half, when Grady Sizemore led off with a double off the center-field fence and moved to third on a long flyout.

But after an intentional walk to Travis Hafner, Wang got streaking slugger Victor Martinez to ground into an inning-ending double play.

``It worked out perfect for them," Cleveland manager Eric Wedge said. ``That kid has a real heavy sinker, too. It has some run on it as well as some down to it."

Aaron Boone reached on an infield single to start the eighth and advanced on a sacrifice, chasing Wang.

Mike Myers and Kyle Farnsworth got out of the inning unscathed, and Mariano Rivera fanned two in a hitless ninth for his 13th save in 14 chances.

``Mo's got that glare about him right now," Torre said.

In his second major league season, the 26-year-old Wang (7-2) pitched five-hit ball for 7 1/3 innings -- improving to 6-1 with a fill-in save in his past nine appearances.

``We needed him and he came through," Rivera said.

Wang walked one, struck out three, and has allowed only one run in 14 1/3 innings over his last two starts -- against the Red Sox and Indians.