Game 107 notes: Yankees win 8-1

After tying a franchise record by hitting eight home runs last night, the Yankees hit five home runs for an encore in their 8-1 victory of the Chicago White Sox.

Jorge Posada, Robinson Cano, Shelley Duncan and Derek Jeter all homered (Posada twice). One name missing? Alex Rodriguez. He is now 0 for his last 21 since hitting his 499th home run. Looks like I was right again, as he did go 0-4 while I was in attendance tonight.

Andy Pettitte (7-7) labored at times and didn't seem to have his best stuff, but he worked hard and only gave up six hits and one run in seven innings. He also threw 117 pitches.

Chicago starter John Danks (6-8) gave up three of the home runs tonight. In four innings, he allowed five earned runs. Ryan Bukvich and Charlie Haeger gave up the other home runs. After Posada homered in the eighth, Haeger hit Cano and was promptly ejected.

Some notes from the game:

• Luis Vizcaino pitched a scoreless eighth inning and Brian Bruney didn't walk a batter in his inning of work.
• Duncan has five home runs in 24 career at-bats. He is quickly becoming a fan-favorite, but didn't give the crowd a curtain call after his home run.
• Television doesn't do the camera flashes justice. It is pretty crazy seeing all of those cameras go off in person when Rodriguez is batting. I can see how he would be distracted.

The Yankees are now nine games over .500 at 58-49. Cleveland lost tonight, so the Yankees trail Cleveland by only two games in the Wild Card. Boston won tonight, keeping their lead over the Yankees at seven games in the AL East.

Roger Clemens will face Jon Garland tomorrow afternoon, as the Yankees look to sweep the White Sox.

AP Photo