The Yankees' bats finally came through Monday night, and Mike Mussina was lights out for six innings as the Yankees beat Tampa Bay by a score of 6-1 to earn a split in their wrap-around four-game set. Bobby Abreu was the star of the show, going 3-3 with a two-run shot and three runs scored, and finished the game only a double short of the cycle.

Abreu's home run in the first put the Yankees up 2-0. Back-to-back RBI singles by A-Rod and Matsui in the 6th and by Matsui and Cano in the 7th put the Bombers up 4-1 and 6-1, respectively. Johnny Damon added two hits, as well.

Aside from a home run by Jonny Gomes in the third, the Rays couldn't get anything going against Mike Mussina. After a somewhat shaky first start, Mussina shut down what may actually turn out to be a very potent Rays' offense, leaving the game with a line of just 2 hits and an earned run in 6 innings. The bullpen got it done once again as Brian Bruney and (GASP!) Kyle Farnsworth each threw hitless innings (Bruney hit a batter). Latroy Hawkins struggled a bit in the 9th, but got out of the inning without any damage done.

The one negative to come out of this game was when Derek Jeter left the game before the 3rd inning do to what the announcers said was a strained quadricep. Joe Girardi said after the game that Jeter won't be in the lineup for today's game in Kansas City, but Jeter says he hopefully won't be out too long.

The Yankees will be in Kansas City this afternoon for the Royals' home opener. Kansas City is surprisingly off to a pretty good start, going 4-2 in their opening road trip, including a sweep of the Tigers in Detroit. Phil Hughes will be going up against Brian Bannister in a battle of two young right-handers. Game starts at 4:10 E.T.