(Sports Network) - Apparently, the Yankees can win with pitching too. Faced with a potential pitcher's duel tonight, New York begins a three-game series with the Cincinnati Reds in the Bronx.

The Yankees have won a season-best seven straight games after sweeping a three-game series with San Diego on Thursday. New York is averaging 6.4 runs per game over its winning run, but its hot bats were held in check a bit in yesterday's 2-1 win.

However, an outstanding outing from Joba Chamberlain helped lift the club to victory. Chamberlain struck out a career-high nine before exiting after 5 2/3 innings after throwing 100 pitches. Jose Veras (2-0) tossed 1 1/3 shutout innings of relief to pick up the win, while Mariano Rivera struck out the side in the ninth for his 20th save.

Offensively, Alex Rodriguez plated the deciding run with a single in the sixth frame, while Derek Jeter went 2-for-3 and scored a run. Jose Molina also doubled and finished with an RBI in the victory.

The Yankees, who are 6-2 versus the National League this year, are five games back of first-place Boston in the AL East.

The club, though, faces a tough test tonight in Cincinnati starter Edinson Volquez, who leads the majors in earned run average (1.64) and strikeouts (105) while posting a 9-2 record on the year.

The right-hander has never faced the Yankees before and is coming off a no- decision on Saturday against the Red Sox. Volquez gave up three runs (2 earned) on seven hits over seven frames to go along with nine strikeouts. He has won his last two decisions and five of the last six.

New York does counter with its best pitcher of the season so far in Mike Mussina, who has won his last four decisions and is tied for the AL lead with 10 victories. Mussina, who has a 3.87 ERA on the year, defeated Houston on Saturday after giving up three runs on six hits over six frames to post the 260th victory of his career.

The 39-year-old right-hander hasn't lost since May 20 at home versus Baltimore and faces the Reds for just the second time in his career. The first outing came on June 4, 2003, when Mussina allowed six runs on eight hits over 5 1/3 innings of a loss.

The Reds have dropped a season-high tying five straight games for the third time this year after getting swept in three games by the Dodgers. Aaron Harang (3-10) labored over 107 pitches in just five innings of the 7-4 setback for Cincinnati, yielding five runs on 10 hits and three walks in the loss.

Brandon Phillips had two hits and two RBI and Norris Hopper added two hits and one RBI for Cincinnati, which put a wrap on their nine-game homestand, going 2-7 on the residency. The club begins a nine-game road trip tonight.

Ken Griffey Jr. did not start any of the games versus the Dodgers due to flu- like symptoms, though he did pinch-hit on Tuesday. He is questionable again for tonight.

The Reds would like to have the sweet-swinging Griffey in the lineup when they make their first-ever regular season trip to historic Yankee Stadium. Cincinnati hasn't visited the Bronx since Ken Griffey Sr. helped guide the Reds to a four-game sweep over the Yanks in the 1976 World Series.

These two clubs have met just once in the regular season prior to this, as the Reds took two of three at home back on June 3-5, 2003.