A.J. Burnett (W, 10-12) gave up 3 runs in 6 innings in New York's 4-3 win over the Oakland Athletics. (Photo by Bill Menzel)

YANKEE STADIUM -- First baseman Mark Teixeira's first-inning, RBI double and 2-run single in the second, which capped a 3-run rally made possible by A's starter Brett Anderson's error at first base, proved to be enough support for A.J. Burnett (W, 10-12), who gave up 3 runs on 6 hits (1 HR) in a 4-3 win.

While Teixeira's production hardly comes as a surprise, considering the fact that he's coming off an August in which he had 9 home runs and 21 runs batted in, Burnett's victory last night was his first since July 28.

But if you ask Burnett, he'll tell you it's not about the stats, but rather establishing consistency over this last month heading into the postseason.

Since it's clear the Yankees (83-50) and the Tampa Bay Rays (82-51) - no matter who wins the AL East - are gearing up for the playoffs at this point, it is paramount to New York's title defense for the precocious yet volatile Burnett to regain the form that enthralled and ultimately compelled GM Brian Cashman to sign him to a 5-year, $85 million deal during the 2008-2009 offseason.

"I'm not worried about the what the numbers are. My job is to go out there and do what I did tonight," Burnett, who also had 8 strikeouts, said after the game. "For me it's a matter of repeating this the next time out. Getting momentum in the last month is what's important."

"The one thing about being a player is you always want to feel like you're contributing," said manager Joe Girardi. "It's a big win for him; it's a big win for us. We've gotten off to a good start on this homestand."

Burnett set the tone in the first by striking out both Coco Crisp and Jack Cust looking with 94 mph fastballs, and then he got cleanup hitter Kevin Kouzmanoff to hit a routine fly out to right.

In the home half of the first, Derek Jeter, who entered the game hitting .266, led off with a single up the middle and came around to score on Mark Teixera's RBI double to left-center.

Poised to add to their 1-0 lead, the Yankees' effort to do so hit a snag when shortstop Cliff Pennington made a nifty, backhanded grab on Robinson Cano's sharp grounder and threw Teixeira out at third for the second out.

Brett Anderson (L, 3-6) (6.0 IP, 4H, 4R, 1 ER) promptly retired the next hitter, DH Marcus Thames, on a fly out to left to end the inning.

Unfortunately for Oakland (65-67), Pennington's play to save a run in the first was as impressive as Brett Anderson's second-inning error was disastrous.

With two outs and men on first and second, Jeter hit a slow roller to the right side of the mound which first baseman Daric Barton fielded and tossed to Anderson, who was scrambling toward the first base bag. But Anderson bobbled and dropped the ball, allowing Curtis Granderson to score.

The error, Anderson's first of the season, proved to be even more costly for Oakland because Mark Teixeira followed with a 2-run single through the left side that made it 4-0.

The 3 runs won't count against Anderson's ERA, as they were unearned due his error, but the damage he inflicted on his team eventually made the difference in the game.

Mark Teixeira drove in 3 of New York's 4 runs on the night. (Photo by Bill Menzel)

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