Hernandez Gets Down to Business

Orlando Hernandez didn’t look happy. He had to feel better than the Oakland Athletics though.

Clay Bellinger hit his first two major league triples and drove in three runs to help Hernandez win his second consecutive start as the New York Yankees defeated the Athletics, 10-6, Saturday.

“I’m not obligated to be happy,” Hernandez said through an interpreter. “But I’m pleased because we won.”

Hernandez (10-10) had lost four consecutive decisions before winning his last two. Saturday, he struck out a season-high 11 in seven innings. He gave up three runs, five hits and three walks. He threw a season-high 134 pitches.

“I’ve just prepared myself for this,” said Hernandez, who missed several starts in June and July because of elbow and back problems. “I’m healthy now. I’ll be OK.”

Mark Mulder (7-10) allowed six runs and 10 hits in two-plus innings, his shortest outing of the year. He walked one and struck out one as he lost for the eighth time in 10 decisions since June 30.

“I just made bad pitches all day,” Mulder said. “I’m the one who made the mistakes, and they took advantage of me.”

Bernie Williams, sidelined the previous seven games with a strained right rib cage, singled in the first inning to score Derek Jeter. Tino Martinez had a two-run single in the inning.

“It was nice having Bernie out there,” Yankees’ manager Joe Torre said. “He was sort of a stabilizing force for us. He held things together.”

Luis Sojo had an RBI single in the second and Jose Canseco hit his 12th homer leading off the third. It was his 443rd homer, which moved him past Dave Kingman and into 23rd place on the all-time list.

Jorge Posada doubled home Martinez to make it 6-0 and end Mulder’s day.