Tony Gutierrez / AP

The Yankees' Mike Mussina threw 64 pitches against the Rangers in his first appearance since straining a hamstring on April 11.

Pettitte handed over a 3-2 lead to the bullpen after allowing two runs and five hits in six innings with five strikeouts. He also turned over leads to the bullpen on April 15 and 20 only to have Rivera fail to hold them.

Pettitte didn’t feel ready after warming up in the bullpen.

“It was another struggle for me,” he said. “I was battling myself mechanically again. Wish I could have gone deeper in the game, but we got a win, and that’s the big thing.”

Jeter reached against Joaquin Benoit (0-1) leading off the eighth on an infield single. Bobby Abreu struck out and Jeter advanced on a wild pitch — after he was nearly picked off but was safe because first baseman Mark Teixeira dropped the ball for an error.

After Alex Rodriguez grounded out, Texas intentionally walked Jason Giambi to pitch to Matsui, who doubled deep to right-center. Giambi hesitated twice on the basepaths and was thrown out at the plate.

Giambi said he began cramping up after rounding second but was OK. He also homered in the fourth, and said he felt more in the game because he was playing first base for the second time this year.

“We’ve gone through some tough stretches, but the one thing I felt that this year is we’ve never really gave in,” said Giambi, who also homered.

The Yankees placed Phil Hughes on the DL before the game, two days after he became the fourth New York player to injure a hamstring. On Wednesday, the Yankees fired strength and conditioning coach Marty Miller.

Texas, too, has injury issues — scheduled starter Kevin Millwood was scratched with a mild left hamstring strain and replaced by Mike Wood, who allowed three runs — two earned — and five hits in 6 1-3 innings.

Notes: Millwood is expected to return to the rotation when the Rangers visit the Yankees from May 8-10. ... Yankees GM Brian Cashman said RHP Carl Pavano (forearm) is trying to schedule an exam with Dr. James Andrews. Pavano hasn’t pitched since April 9. ... The Yankees have won 10 straight games at Texas. ... Sosa’s double in the first game was his 1,000th extra-base hit.

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