Giambi, Pettitte help Yankees keep beat
NEW YORK - This one was easy for the surging Yankees.
Jason Giambi homered twice and Andy Pettitte pitched seven sharp innings as New York beat the sloppy San Diego Padres, 8-0, last night to match a season high with its fifth straight victory.
Alex Rodriguez also connected off an ineffective Randy Wolf for the Yankees (38-33), who have won 10 of 13 to move a season-best five games above .500. New York has outscored its opponents, 35-6, during the five-game winning streak.
"It definitely feels like we're really starting to put it together," Giambi said.
Pettitte (7-5) tied a season high with nine strikeouts, improving to 4-0 in his past six starts. He allowed five hits and walked one, passing former pitching coach Ron Guidry for fourth place on the franchise list with his 171st win for the Yankees.
Pettitte, who owns a 208-118 career mark, has allowed one run over 15 innings in his past two starts since giving up 10 in a no-decision against Kansas City June 7.
San Diego played a messy game in this 1998 World Series rematch, throwing two wild pitches and committing three errors - two by fill-in second baseman Craig Stansberry.
The Padres also recalled prized prospect Chase Headley from the minors. Headley made an error in left field and finished 2 for 4 as San Diego lost for the fourth time in 12 games and fell to 11-23 on the road.
Rodriguez homered to center leading off the second, his third in three games and No. 531 career. Giambi connected one batter later and added a two-run shot in the fourth after a leadoff walk to Hideki Matsui.
Giambi leads the team with 17 home runs, three more than he hit last season.
The Yankees tacked on three more runs in the fourth off Wolf (5-5), making his first career appearance at Yankee Stadium.
The lefthander entered 3-0 with a 1.91 ERA in his past five starts, but lasted only four innings. He was tagged for seven runs and six hits.
