It works out for Torre

NEW YORK -- Yankees manager Joe Torre won the game. Actually Derek Jeter (5 for 5) and Bobby Abreu (four RBIs) did.

But Torre didn't think too much of his managing in last night's 8-4 victory over the Tigers.

``I didn't do a whole lot there," Torre said. ``I did one thing, and that was a hit-and-run and it sort of didn't work out at all."

Then he started thinking about Chien-Ming Wang's outing, how Torre pulled him with two outs in the seventh with nobody on and brought in Mike Myers to face Curtis Granderson, who homered.

"That was a great piece of managing too," Torre said, laughing.

The manager was asked about starting Wang in such a big game before the hometown fans, but Torre didn't think nerves were a problem for Wang, a 19-game winner who allowed three runs on eight hits in 6 2/3 innings.

``I don't think he's nervous," Torre said. ``He's got a great way about him. If we felt his personality wouldn't allow it, we certainly wouldn't have stuck him out there in Yankee Stadium. But we felt pretty comfortable choosing him to do it. If anything, he was probably a little too excited, getting a few balls up in the zone."

As managerial jobs open up, you can look to the Yankee staff for possible candidates. Tony Pena, Larry Bowa, bench coach Lee Mazzilli, and bullpen coach Joe Kerrigan all have managerial experience. Pena, for one, is on a short list of potential candidates for the Nationals, who decided not to renew Frank Robinson's contract, though Pena said last night he had not been contacted for any position. ``I definitely want to manage again," said Pena. ``But I'm very happy with the Yankees. This is a great team and a great group of people to work for. I enjoy the players here. But if the right opportunity comes up, I'd like to get back into it." . . . Detroit's Game 2 starter, Justin Verlander, grew up in Virginia watching his opponent tonight, Mike Mussina, pitch for the Orioles. ``I used to watch him all the time," Verlander said. ``Without a doubt, a great pitcher. Really knows how to set up hitters and use his stuff. It's kind of an honor to throw against him." Mussina, asked how it made him feel, said, ``Young. I've been really lucky. Back then, I knew a lot less about it than I do now, and it just tells me I'm lucky to able to do this over 15 years." . . . Lots of buzz about Red Sox coaches here. One possibility for hitting coach could be former Tigers manager Alan Trammell. Ex-Dodgers hitting coach Tim Wallach also has strong ties to Terry Francona, as does Mike Barnett, who was coaching assistant under Ron Jackson in 2005 and spent this season with the Royals.

Oakland manager Ken Macha said righthander Dan Haren will start Game 3 against Minnesota, followed by righty Rich Harden in Game 4. Haren has been a horse for the A's this season, going 14-13 with a 4.12 ERA in 223 innings. Harden is 4-0 with a 4.24 ERA in nine starts, but spent much of the season on the disabled list with a strained elbow ligament. He came back to make three starts down the stretch . . . Oakland's Frank Thomas went 3 for 4, but nearly lost a hit in the seventh thanks to a heads-up play by Twins right fielder Michael Cuddyer. The 38-year-old Thomas ripped a sharp single to right and lumbered toward first base. Cuddyer, who was playing shallow, scooped up the ball and unleashed a throw to first. Thomas barely beat it. ``I had to take a shot," Cuddyer said with a chuckle. ``He crushed the ball out to me and I figured, `What the heck.' "

Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.