Bats change Moose's luck

Yanks pound Bannister as Mussina earns 16th win THE ASSOCIATED PRESS • August 18, 2008 NEW YORK — Mike Mussina kept turning around to see poorly hit balls find holes in the Yankees' defense, his body language conveying just a touch of exasperation. By the time he walked off the mound after the first inning, Kansas City had a three-run lead. "His luck wasn't real good in the first," manager Joe Girardi said, "but it changed after that." Helps when your offense wipes out the deficit — and then some — in a hurry. Jason Giambi hit a grand slam, Alex Rodriguez sent a three-run homer bouncing into Monument Park and New York broke loose against Brian Bannister and the Royals in a 15-6 rout Sunday that salvaged a split of the season series. Cody Ransom added a two-run homer and Xavier Nady also went deep for the Yankees, who totaled... [read full story]