Bronx, NY (Sports Network) - Joba Chamberlain struck out a career-high nine in 5 2/3 innings, and Alex Rodriguez delivered the game-winning run with a single in the sixth as the red-hot New York Yankees completed a three-game sweep of the San Diego Padres with a 2-1 win at Yankee Stadium.
Chamberlain allowed a run on four hits, but did not factor in the decision as the Yanks extended their win streak to seven games. Jose Veras (2-0) tossed 1 1/3 shutout innings of relief to pick up the win, while Mariano Rivera struck out the side in the ninth for his 20th save.
"They were patient, and that led to a few strikeouts," Chamberlain said. "I wish I could've gone a little deeper for us, but that's the way these things go."
Derek Jeter went 2-for-3 and scored a run, while Jose Molina doubled and drove in a run.
Tony Clark drove in the lone run for the Padres, losers of four straight. Josh Banks (2-1) dropped the decision after allowing two runs on four hits in 5 1/3 frames, striking out three and walking one.
Tied 1-1, Jeter singled off Banks to lead off the bottom of the sixth, then proceeded to steal second. After a Bobby Abreu groundout moved Jeter to third, Rodriguez slashed a line single to left to give the Yankees their first lead of the afternoon, 2-1. Justin Hampson came on in relief of Banks and avoided further damage.
"I got a good pitch to hit, and I got a base hit," Rodriguez said.
While the San Diego bullpen prevented the Yankees from pulling away, the combination of Veras, Kyle Farnsworth and Rivera combined to allow just one hit over 3 1/3 innings to finish off the sweep.
"We knew that one run would probably be the difference, and our bullpen was outstanding," Rodriguez said.
Chamberlain ran into trouble in the top of the second, as Adrian Gonzalez led off with a single, Chase Headley followed with a ground-rule double and Clark walked to load the bases. Scott Hairston struck out, and with Khalil Greene at the plate, Molina let a fastball go between his legs, but recovered in time to flip to Chamberlain, who tagged out Gonzalez at home. Chamberlain then fanned Greene to retire the side.
But, the Padres did push a run across in the fourth. Brian Giles led off with a single, and Gonzalez followed with a walk. One out later, Clark hit a flare down the line in left that landed in fair territory, then hopped into the stands for a ground-rule double that plated Giles.
Melky Cabrera helped the Yanks tie the game in the home fifth without picking up a hit. After working a one-out walk, Cabrera stole second and third, then came in to score when Molina golfed a sacrifice fly to center.
Chamberlain struck out Gonzalez and Headley to start the sixth, then was lifted after 100 pitches to a standing ovation from the Yankee Stadium crowd. Veras came on in relief and retired Clark on a fly ball to end the inning.
Game Notes: Rivera's three strikeouts upped his career total to 896, passing Fritz Peterson (893) for 15th place in club history..The Padres were just 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and stranded eight men..San Diego opens a nine-game interleague homestand on Friday with the first of three games against the Tigers..The Yankees begin a three-game set against Cincinnati on Friday at Yankee Stadium.