Yankees' Chamberlain to Join Matsui in Tampa

Yankees slugger Hideki Matsui began a running program yesterday for his sore left knee, and injured RHP Joba Chamberlain will join him at the team's spring training facility in Tampa.

After hitting 10 home runs on 58 pitches during his second consecutive day of batting practice on the field, Matsui ran about 90 feet six times in the outfield.

"I was able to run and I didn't have any problems after that," he said through an interpreter. "So, in that sense, I'm pretty satisfied."

Also headed to Tampa is Chamberlain, on the 15-day disabled list with rotator cuff tendinitis in his pitching shoulder. New York Manager Joe Girardi said Chamberlain will do exercises and receive treatment in Florida.

"They felt it's better to be around trainers," Girardi said.

Girardi expects Chamberlain to begin a throwing program once the Yankees return home after their 10-game road trip wraps up Aug. 13.

Matsui will face a big test today -- seeing how the knee reacts. The designated hitter and part-time left fielder had his rehab program shut down last month when the knee swelled even more after two days of batting practice.

"We did something new today, so it will be interesting how the knee responds," Matsui said. "If I don't have any problems, then I think that's going to be a big step forward."

RHP Carl Pavano, meantime, allowed one hit and struck out four during a rehab start with Class AA Trenton. Pavano, trying to come back from elbow ligament replacement surgery, walked two in 3 1/3 scoreless innings against Akron.

· ATHLETICS: Oakland is winless since July 27 after last night's 6-4 loss to Toronto, its ninth straight. The last time the A's had a losing streak this long was a 12-game skid that began with nine straight losses in September 1995 and continued with three more defeats in April 1996. The A's have been swept in three straight series of three games or more for the first time in Oakland history.

The lone bright spot for Oakland: rookie reliever Brad Ziegler. He worked a scoreless eighth, extending his streak of shutout innings to 35 -- the longest such run to begin a career in modern major league history (since 1900).

-- From News Services