Game 98- Yanks End Homestand On a Good Note

The Yanks concluded their 10-game homestand with a 7-5 win over Oakland, going 9-1 and hitting the road with a 2.5 game lead over the Red Sox. The Captain, Derek Jeter, helped the Yanks overcome a 5-4 deficit with a 2-run single in the 6th inning after Oakland's Mark Ellis had given the A's the lead in the top of the inning.

Yankee starter, Sergio Mitre, starting in his second game since being recalled, quickly ran into trouble in the first when he surrendered 2 runs on 4 hits. The Yanks came right back in the bottom of the first. Hideki Matsui knocked in a run, and overcoming all odds, Robinson Cano hit a 2-out, bases clearing double for 3 more. Cano had everything going against him in this at bat - he has a terrible average the first time he faces a pitcher in a game, horrible numbers with the bases loaded, and God-awful statistics with 2-out and RISP.

Oakland came back with a sac fly in the 4th. Mitre was pulled from the game in the top of the 6th after a leadoff single. Phil Coke retired his first 2 batters before Ellis connected to give the A's their second brief lead. Oakland starter, Dallas Braden, couldn't hold on to his 2nd chance though, as he walked Melky Cabrera and allowed a double to Cody Ransom who played for a resting ARod. This set the stage for The Captain's heroics. Jeter would get picked off, but Johnny Damon followed up with a double and Mark Teixeira finished the scoring with an RBI single.

Phil Hughes came out for the 7th inning. He retired the first 4 batters he faced, striking out 3, until he yielded a walk and a double. With the tying runs on base, Joe Girardi made a gutsy call and called Brian Bruney in to face Ellis. The move paid off handsomely, as Bruney struck him out. Not wanting to push his luck, Girardi brought in the Hammer of God, Mariano Rivera, for the final 4 outs of the game. Mo picked up his 29th save of the season.

Overall, it was a great day for the Yanks, with the exception of losing Brett Gardner to the DL. The Sawx lost, the Rays lost, and the division leading Tigers and Angels lost. The Seattle Mariners got pounded for a 3rd straight day by sad-sack Cleveland, hopefully helping them to decide to become sellers at the trading deadline and giving the Yanks a chance at making a deal for starter Jarrod Washburn.

The Yanks are in for a real test - 19 of their next 26 games will be on the road.

Yankees Record: 60-38