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Rapid Reaction: Yankees 7, Reds 1

NEW YORK -- The Yankees won their second game of the second half 7-1 behind a strong outing from the recently acquired Brandon McCarthy.

Mac attack: McCarthy was pretty sensational in his six innings. He gave up just one run on six hits, walking none and striking out nine. His sinker was awesome.

It was a pretty interesting result considering the Reds banged around McCarthy for five runs at the end of May. McCarthy couldn't even escape the fifth inning that day in Arizona.

Big Mac: McCarthy cruised much of his outing. His biggest moment came with two outs in the sixth, up three runs and with the tying run at the plate. Brayan Pena -- who hit two homers Friday -- failed to catch up to a 2-2, 94 mph sinker for the final out of the inning.

Vidal second half: Entering Saturday, McCarthy had a career ERA of 3.71 in the second half, compared with 4.53 in the first. He might turn out to be quite the upgrade over Vidal Nuno, who went to Arizona for McCarthy.

In two starts for the Yankees, McCarthy is 1-0 with a 1.54 ERA.

Belting: Carlos Beltran got the Yankees on the board with a solo shot on an 0-2 curveball from All-Star Alfredo Simon in the second.

Putting the 'E' in Reds: To begin the third, right fielder Jay Bruce dropped Brian Roberts' fly ball. An out later, Brett Gardner drove home Roberts with a single to put the Yankees up 2-0.

Started from the bottom ... : In the fifth, the Yankees extended their lead with the No. 8 hitter, Roberts, and the No. 9 hitter, Kelly Johnson, leading the way. Both singled, which set up Gardner's sac fly to the warning track in right.

Jeter meter: Derek Jeter made it 4-1 by serving a one-out single into center to score Johnson in the fifth. Jeter went on to steal second, but he did not score.

Started from the bottom ... (Part II): Well, it wasn't exactly started at the bottom, but it was Roberts and Johnson in the middle of the Yankees' scoring once again.

Following leadoff singles by Brian McCann and Beltran, Roberts produced a one-out single to load bases for Johnson. Johnson hit a cue ball down the first-base line that teased a lunging Pena. Two runs scored on the single, and the rout was on when Gardner, next up, plated another run on a sac fly. Gardner had three RBIs on the day.

Sellout: The Yankees announced a sellout crowd of 47,606.

On deck: The Yankees will go for the sweep as Hiroki Kuroda (6-6, 4.10) faces Johnny Cueto (10-6, 2.13) on Sunday.