NEW YORK, Oct. 1 (UPI) -- Sterling Hitchcock pitched a four-hitter Monday night for his first complete game in more than two years as the New York Yankees rolled to an 8-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox.
It was thought Hitchcock would pitch in long relief for New York if he made the postseason roster. But with Andy Pettitte and Orlando Hernandez injured, Hitchcock (4-4) could find himself in the mix for a starting assignment.
The lefthander retired 14 of 16 batters from the fourth through seventh innings and struck out eight in earning his first win since August 23.
His last complete game came on September, 7, 1999 for the San Diego Padres and his last complete game win was August 14, 1998.
It came one day after the Yankees used seven pitchers against the Baltimore Orioles in a game that was suspended after 15 innings due to rain.
New York moved 3 ½ games ahead of Cleveland in the battle for the second-best record among American League division winners.
The Yankees managed just one run and five hits and struck out 17 times on Sunday but waited just one inning before reaching White Sox starter Kip Wells for three runs.
Wells (10-10) walked David Justice and Shane Spencer to start the second and rookie Alfonso Soriano followed with an RBI single for a 1-0 lead. Wells struck out Bobby Estalella and Luis Sojo, but Derek Jeter delivered a two-run double over the head of rookie center fielder Aaron Rowand.
Chicago cut the deficit to 3-1 in the third on a sacrifice fly by Ray Durham. But the Yankees added three runs in the third to chase Wells, who failed to record an out. Spencer and Soriano stroked RBI doubles around an error by left fielder Carlos Lee that allowed Justice to score.
