Game 158 notes: Yankees win 12-4

Time to celebrate! The Yankees clinch a playoff berth with their 12-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays Wednesday night.

In a season of ups and downs, the Yankees didn't give up while some of their fans (me) did. I now look pretty foolish saying some of the things I said when I first started the blog, but this team proved me wrong, and for that I am grateful.

This is the 13th consecutive season the Yankees have made the playoffs, which is an extremely remarkable stretch of time.

On to the game:

• Chien-Ming Wang won his 19th game of the season for the second consecutive season. He gave up two runs and struck out six over six innings.
• Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano hit home runs. Cano drove in five runs to give him 94 RBIs on the season.
• Doug Mientkiewicz's four hits tied a career high.
• Johnny Damon, Jeter, Jorge Posada, Cano and Mientkiewicz all had multi-hit games.
• The Yankees hit five doubles.
• Jeter extended his hitting streak to 13 games.
• Joba Chamberlain and Mariano Rivera pitched scoreless innings. Luis Vizcaino gave up a two-run home run in his inning of work.

On May 27 in my first standings update, the Yankees were 7.5 games behind the Detroit Tigers. Four months later, the same Tigers are now eliminated.

Congratulations to these Yankees, but the job isn't finished. One month from now, I hope the Yankees are celebrating something else.

Game 157 notes: Yankees lose 7-6

I feel disgusted. The Yankees manage to blow a 5-0 lead in the sixth inning behind the capable arms of Edwar Ramirez and Brian Bruney.

Then, the Yankees tie it up in the eighth inning! However, they don't score in the ninth or 10th inning.

Therefore, Joe Torre turns to Jeff Karstens and his 10.43 ERA to pitch the 10th inning. What does he do? Promptly serve up a walkoff home run to Dioner Navarro.

This is with Boston and Detroit both winning, by the way.

Anyway, onto some details.

Kei Igawa started in place of injured Roger Clemens. Igawa didn't give up a run in his five innings of work. However, he also walked five batters.

Alex Rodriguez hit a grand slam in the third inning to give the Yankees a 5-0 lead.

However, in the sixth inning, the Yankees completely melted down. Ramirez and Bruney walked four batters and gave up two hits and six earned runs. The big blast came off the bat of Jorge Velandia, who hit a grand slam.

Some notes from the game:

• Johnny Damon went 5-5 with five singles.
• Robinson Cano went 3-5.
  
• Derek Jeter extended his hitting streak to 12 games.
• The Yankees walked 11 Devil Rays.

The Yankees can all about cancel their plans of winning the division. They now trail Boston by three games with five to play. Boston's magic number to win the East is three.

The magic number to win the Wild Card remains at one.

Chien-Ming Wang will face J.P. Howell tomorrow night.

(AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Game 156 notes: Yankees lose 4-1

Andy Pettitte and the New York Yankees weren't interested in playing baseball Monday afternoon, as they lost to the Toronto Blue Jays 4-1.

Pettitte (14-9) gave up three earned runs (four runs) over six innings, while throwing 96 pitches and striking out one batter. He wasn't terrible, but the Yankees couldn't hit Jesse Litsch (7-9), who was starting for A.J. Burnett. Burnett went home for personal reasons.

Litsch gave up five hits over 7 2-3 innings in the spot start. Before today's game, Litsch has a 12.71 ERA in 5 2-3 innings against New York this season.

The only Yankee that decided to show up was Hideki Matsui. He went 2-4. However, in the eighth inning, when Bobby Abreu doubled and Alex Rodriguez singled, Matsui flew out on the first pitch when he was representing the tying run.

Some notes from the game:

• The Yankees bullpen (Kyle Farnsworth, Jose Veras and Ross Ohlendorf) gave up a combined one hit over three innings of work.
• The Yankees only recorded six hits.
• Casey Janssen recorded his sixth save of the season in 1 1-3 innings of work.

The Yankees now trail Boston by two full games in the AL East. They are idle this evening.

The Yankees conclude their season at home. They will travel to Tampa Bay to play three games there beginning tomorrow night. Roger Clemens will oppose Jason Hammel.

Game 155 notes: Yankees win 7-5

Mike Mussina (11-10) stabilized the depleted Yankees' pitching staff this afternoon. Mussina gave up three runs over seven much-needed innings as the Yankees defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 7-5 Sunday afternoon.

After using 10 pitchers yesterday and playing a 14-inning game Friday night, the Yankees needed a starter to go deep into the game.

The day didn't start off well, as Mussina gave up three runs in the second inning. Adam Lind hit a two-run double and Curtis Thigpen drove him in on a single.

The Yankees responded with three runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Jose Molina, Johnny Damon and Derek Jeter all had RBI singles.

The Yankees broke the 3-3 tie in the fifth inning. Once again, they did it on RBI singles - this time from Robinson Cano, Doug Mientkiewicz and Molina.

In the bottom of the seventh, Molina recorded his third hit and RBI of the day with a double that scored Hideki Matsui.

The Yankees deviated from the "Joba rules" this afternoon. After Luis Vizcaino gave up a two-run home run to Matt Stairs, Joe Torre brought in Joba Chamberlain. He pitched two innings Friday night, so he was not scheduled to pitch today. Also, according to the rules, he can't come into the game in the middle of an inning. This section of the rules was actually broken on Wednesday when he recorded one out.

Chamberlain stayed in the game for the ninth inning to record his first Major League save. He struck out the side.

Some notes from the game:

• The win was Mussina's 250th of his career.
  
• Cano and Molina each had three hits each.
• Derek Jeter and Bobby Abreu had two hits. Jeter extended his hitting streak to 10 games.
• Mussina struck out five batters and lowered his ERA to 4.96.
• Toronto starter Dustin McGowan (11-10) threw 112 pitches in 4 1-3 innings. He gave up six hits and six earned runs, while walking six and striking out five.
  
• The Yankees honored the late Phil Rizzuto before the game.
  

Boston lost to Tampa Bay this afternoon. Their magic number to win the East remains at six. Their lead over the Yankees is down to 1.5 games. The half-game will go away tomorrow afternoon when the Yankees complete a makeup game.

Detroit won this afternoon. With the Yankees' victory, the magic number to win the Wild Card is down to two.

Andy Pettitte will face A.J. Burnett tomorrow afternoon. Roger Clemens was originally scheduled to start, but he will be pushed back until at least Tuesday.

(AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Game 154 notes: Yankees win 12-11

The Yankees were involved in another wacky, long, extra inning game against the Toronto Blue Jays. This time, however, they came up on top, as they won 12-11 Saturday evening.

The 1:00 was delayed for over an hour and a half and didn't finish until after 7:30.

The game was rather quiet until the sixth inning. The Yankees were trailing 3-2 at that point.

Then the fun began.

The Yankees and Blue Jays combined for a total of 18 runs during the next five innings.

In the sixth, the Yankees scored four runs to take a 6-3 lead. Alex Rodriguez doubled in two runs and Hideki Matsui singled in two more.

A combination of Jose Veras and Edwar Ramirez gave up five runs in the seventh to give Toronto an 8-6 lead.

The Yankees came back again. They scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh to take a 9-8 lead. Melky Cabrera drove in two runs and Alex Rodriguez drove in another.

The Jays weren't done. With Kyle Farnsworth pitching, Toronto was able to push across three runs to take an 11-9 lead. Farnsworth gave up three hits in 1-3 of an inning. Kei Igawa came in after Chris Britton retired a batter. Igawa gave up an RBI single.

New York was able to tie the score in the bottom half of the frame. Cabrera drove in two runs on a ball that was misplayed by second baseman Aaron Hill.

Mariano Rivera added stability in the ninth inning, as the Jays didn't score.

The Yankees were finally able to win the game in the 10th. Jorge Posada led off with a double. Jason Giambi was then intentionally walked. Robinson Cano hit a fly ball which allowed Johnny Damon (running for Posada) and Giambi to advance the third and second, respectively, with one out. Wilson Betemit then struck out when all he needed to do was hit a fly ball. However, Cabrera was able to deliver another clutch single to win the game and record his fifth RBI on the day.

Some notes from the game:

• Jeff Karstens got the win for pitching a scoreless 10th inning. He is now 1-3. After allowing a leadoff single and inducing two outs, he gave up a double into the gap to Hill. Cabrera fielded the carom and threw to Cano, who threw home. The ball his off of the downslope of the mound and rolled to Posada to tagged out Matt Stairs to keep the game tied.
  
• Phil Hughes started. He gave up three runs and seven hits in five innings. He struck out three, walked one and threw 99 pitches.
• Rodriguez went 4-5 with three RBIs. He now has 146 on the season, which is the most by a Yankee since Don Mattingly had 145 RBIs in 1985.
• The Yankees used 10 pitchers in a game for the first time in team history.
• Hideki Matsui went 3-6 with three RBIs. He is showing more signs that he is coming out of his slump.

Boston is winning 3-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning. Detroit is losing 5-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning.

The magic number to win the Wild Card is now four. If Detroit loses, it will go down to three. Boston's magic number to win the East is seven.

Mike Mussina will face Dustin McGowan tomorrow afternoon.

I'll be back later tonight with the finals from the Boston and Detroit games.

REUTERS/Jeff Zelevansky

Game 152 notes: Yankees win 2-1

Andy Pettitte lived up to his reputation as a big game pitcher.

Pettitte (14-8) gave up one run in 7 2-3 innings in the Yankees' 2-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles Wednesday night. The win was also his 200th career win.

With the Yankees closing in on the struggling Boston Red Sox, every win is huge.

The Yankees' runs came on a Hideki Matsui solo home run and on a wild pitch. Pettitte gave up his run in the sixth inning on a Melvin Mora RBI single.

Other than that, it was a pitcher's duel between Pettitte and Brian Burres (6-6). Burres gave up two runs and struck out seven in 7 1-3 innings.

Mariano Rivera recorded his 30th save of the year with his work in the ninth. He loaded the bases but was able to escape unscathed.

Some notes from the game:

• Joba Chamberlain struck out the only batter he faced for his seventh hold of the season.
• Matsui's home run was his 25th of the season and his RBI was his 99th of the season.
• The Yankees only had five hits.

The Red Sox lost to the Toronto Blue Jays. The Yankees now trail Boston by only 1.5 games in the AL East (one game in the loss column).

Detroit also lost. The Yankees' magic number to win at least the Wild Card is down to five.

The Yankees swept the Orioles and are now 7-8 against them this season. They will face Toronto at home for four games beginning on Friday.

(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Game 149 notes: Yankees win 4-3

Wow, what a game! The Yankees defeated the Boston Red Sox by a score of 4-3 Sunday night in one of the wildest games of the season.

Leading 4-2 in the ninth, Mariano Rivera walked Jason Varitek to start things. After two groundouts left Varitek at third, Julio Lugo doubled him home. Rivera then hit Jacoby Ellsbury and walked Dustin Pedroia. He then finally got David Ortiz to pop out to Derek Jeter to end the game for his 28th save of the year.

Roger Clemens started for the Yankees on this night. In his first start since September 3, he gave up two hits and one run in six innings. He struck out four and walked three.

With the score tied at 1-1 in the eighth, Doug Mientkiewicz hit a one-out single. Jason Giambi then singled off the Green Monster. After a ground out, Jeter stepped up to the plate against Curt Schilling (8-8). Jeter, in a big spot, delivered once again, as he blasted a three-run bomb over the Monster to give the Yankees a 4-1 lead.

Joba Chamberlain pitched two innings of relief for his second career win.

Some notes from the game:

• Chamberlain gave up a solo home run to Mike Lowell. It was the first earned run he has surrendered this season. He also gave up two hits and struck out three batters.
  
• Robinson Cano hit a solo home run in the fifth to tie the game at 1-1.
• Schilling gave up four runs in 7 2-3 innings.

(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Game 148 notes: Yankees lose 10-1

Typical Yankee letdown. After last night's craziness, the Yankees came out as flat as a pancake, scoring only one run and recording only four hits in their 10-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox Saturday afternoon. It always somehow seems that when the Yankees have an amazing game the night before, the mail in the next game.

Chien-Ming Wang (18-7) did not make a great case for himself in the Cy Young race. The right-hander gave up five runs and nine hits in 5 2-3 innings. He also only recorded six groundball outs, which is never a good sign for him.

Fenway Park has been a house of horrors for Wang over his career. In five starts prior to this one, he was 2-2 with a 5.83 ERA, while walking 17 and striking out only eight.

On the other hand, Josh Beckett (19-6) made a great case for himself. He allowed only one run and three hits over seven innings, while striking out seven and walking two.

After using five relievers last night, the Yankees used five more tonight. The bullpen gave up five runs on three hits and five walks in 2 1-3 innings.

Some notes from the game:

• Derek Jeter hit his 10th home run of the season. He now has at least 10 home runs in every full season he's played in.
• Bronson Sardinha made his Major League debut in the outfield in the eighth inning.
• David Ortiz went 3-3, contributing to another Yankee defeat. The Yankees can't keep letting Ortiz beat them.
• Jacoby Ellsbury extended his hitting streak to 13 games. He went 2-2 with three RBIs tonight.

The Yankees fall to 84-64 on the season.

Detroit is beating Minnesota 4-1 in the fourth inning. If the Tigers hang on for the victory, they will be 2.5 games behind the Yankees in the Wild Card.

Roger Clemens will face Curt Schilling tomorrow night on Sunday Night Baseball.

Game 143 notes: Yankees win 6-3

Alex Rodriguez hit yet another home run and Chien-Ming Wang got yet another win as the Yankees beat the Kansas City Royals by a score of 6-3 Sunday afternoon to finish off the sweep.

Rodriguez's home run was his 52nd of the season. Wang received his 18th victory of the season in his seven-inning, three-run effort.

Jorge Posada drove in two runs on a double to give the Yankees the lead back after Kansas City tied the game at three.

Kyle Farnsworth pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning and struck out two batters. Mariano Rivera closed the door in the ninth for his 25th save of the season.

Some notes from the game:

• Rodriguez has 140 RBIs. His career high in a season is 142. This is the most RBIs by a Yankee since Tino Martinez drove in 141 in 1997. Rodriguez also has seven home runs in his last five games.
  
• Wang won 19 games last year. He is one win away from matching that this season. He missed almost a month this season due to injury, by the way. His ERA now stands at 3.69.
• Rivera seems to have settled down after a rough stretch in August. He has now converted five straight saves.
• John Bale struck out seven Yankees in 3 2-3 innings of relief. He only gave up two hits and one earned run.

The Yankees are 81-62 after this victory. They have won five straight games and nine of their last 12.

With Seattle beating Detroit this afternoon, the Yankees have a four-game lead of Detroit in the Wild Card. They also lead Seattle by five games.

The Yankees begin a three-game series in Toronto on Tuesday.

(AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Game 141 notes: Yankees win 3-2

Alex Rodriguez once again powered the Yankees to victory. The Yankees' third baseman went 3-4 with a home run in their 3-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals Friday night.

Jorge Posasda also homered for New York.

Ian Kennedy made his second career start tonight. He gave up seven hits, two runs and three walks over five innings.

Kyle Farnsworth (2-1) received the win after pitching a (gasp!) 1-2-3 inning. He struck out two batters in the process.

Some notes from the game:

• Rodriguez's homer was his 49th of the season. That is the most home runs hit by a Yankee in a season since 1961 when Roger Maris hit 61 and Mickey Mantle hit 54.
• Joba Chamberlain pitched two innings of relief. He gave up two hits and struck out a batter. As a reliever, he has struck out 18 batters and has given up only seven hits in 14 1-3 innings.
• Mariano Rivera got his 24th save of the season after pitching a 1-2-3 ninth inning.

The Yankees are 79-62 with this victory. Detroit beat Seattle tonight. The Yankees are three games ahead of Detroit and four games ahead of Seattle in the Wild Card. Seattle has now lost 12 of their last 13 games.

The Yankees are 6.5 games behind Boston in the AL East.

Andy Pettitte will face Brian Bannister tomorrow night.

(AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

Game 136 notes: Yankees win 9-6

Ian Kennedy (1-0) was stellar in his Major League debut. The rookie from USC allowed three runs (one earned) and five hits over seven innings. He also allowed a solo home run and two walks. He threw 96 pitches for 66 strikes.

Alex Rodriguez gave the rookie an early lead by hitting a two-run home run in the first inning. The Yankees would go on to score two runs in the third inning and three runs in the fourth inning to give Kennedy even more support. Rodriguez ended the day with four RBIs and was a triple shy of the cycle.

With the Yankees leading 7-3 in the eighth, Luis Vizcaino came in and allowed three runs to turn an easy game into a save situation. Mariano Rivera had to record four outs to earn his 23rd save of the season. He struck out the side in the ninth inning as well.

Some notes from the game:

• Rodriguez's home run was his 45th of the season. He also has 129 RBIs. The most runs he has driven in as a Yankee is 130 and the most runs he's driven in in his career is 142. He has a very good chance at passing those numbers.
  
• Akinori Iwamura's bat was confiscated by the umpires for inspection, at the request of Joe Torre, because the bat had a flat top. Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon returned the favor by having the umpires take Rodriguez's bat away.
• Minor League utility infielder Alberto Gonzalez made his Major League debut for the Yankees this afternoon. The rosters expanded to 40 today.

Seattle lost to Toronto this afternoon, so the Yankees now have a two-game lead in the American League Wild Card standings. Boston is playing Baltimore tonight. If Baltimore wins, the Yankees would be trailing Boston by four games in the American League East standings.

Andy Pettitte will oppose Jason Hammel tomorrow afternoon.

(AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Game 135 notes: Yankees lose 9-1

Phil Hughes (2-3) is doing his best Mike Mussina impression. The highly-touted right-hander gave up four earned runs and seven hits in 4 1-3 innings pitched in the Yankees' 9-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays Friday night.

Hughes has struggled in every start since his August 10 start against Cleveland, when he gave up one run over six innings. His control has been an issue, as he walked four batters tonight.

Chris Britton made his first Major League appearance since June 4 and gave up two runs over 2 2-3 innings.

Carlos Pena hit two home runs tonight for the Devil Rays. Greg Norton also added a home run.

Andy Sonnanstine (4-9) allowed two hits and a run over eight innings. He also struck out five batters.

Some notes from the game:

• The Yankees only had two hits.
• Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter were the Yankees that got hits.
  
• Pena has five home runs against the Yankees this season.

Seattle lost to the Toronto Blue Jays tonight, so the Yankees remain a game ahead of them in the American League Wild Card standings.

Ian Kennedy makes his Major League debut tomorrow afternoon for the Yankees. He will oppose Edwin Jackson.

(Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

Game 134 notes: Yankees win 5-0

Break out the brooms. The Yankees, behind Chien-Ming Wang (16-6) and Robinson Cano, defeated the Boston Red Sox by a score of 5-0 to sweep the three-game series.

Wang pitched seven shutout innings, allowed only one single and four walks. Cano hit two solo home runs in the victory.

Derek Jeter went 4-4 and scored a run.

Bobby Abreu was a big part of the three-run eighth inning. He doubled home Jeter to make the score 3-0. He then scored a run, along with Alex Rodriguez, on double steal and errant throw.

Joba Chamberlain was ejected in the ninth inning for throwing Kevin Youkilis on back-to-back pitches. He pitched 1 1-3 innings and allowed a walk and a single.

Curt Schilling (8-6) started for Boston. He gave up six hits and two runs over seven innings. He also walked two, struck out six and gave up two home runs. Hideki Okajima gave up three runs in 2-3 of an inning.

Some notes from the game:

• Wang had a no-hitter through six innings.
• Chamberlain failed to strike out a batter in a relief appearance for the first time this season.
• The Red Sox only had two hits in this game.
• Red Sox manager Terry Francona was ejected for arguing a reversed call in the seventh inning. Youkilis avoided a Rodriguez tag attempt by running on the grass. When the umpires got together to talk, they reversed the call, prompting Francona to come out and argue.

The Yankees have now won three games in a row following their 16-0 defeat to Detroit and 2-5 road trip. They are 75-59 on the season.

They begin a three-game series at home against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays tomorrow night. Phil Hughes will face Andy Sonnanstine.

Seattle is currently losing to the Cleveland Indians by a score of 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning. If Seattle loses, the Yankees will have sole position of first place in the AL Wild Card.

(AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Game 133 notes: Yankees win 4-3

The Yankees were able to hang on for the 4-3 victory Wednesday night against the Red Sox. They survived a Kyle Farnsworth eighth-inning meltdown, as he gave up two runs to turn a three-run lead into a one-run lead.

Roger Clemens (6-5) gave up two hits and one run over six innings for the victory.

The Yankees scored three runs in the second inning, all with two outs. Melky Cabrera drove in one run on a single and Johnny Damon drove in two more on a single.

David Ortiz homered in the sixth to make it a 3-1 game. Alex Rodriguez extended the lead to 4-1 with his 44th home run of the season. Kevin Youkilis then homered off of Farnsworth to cut the lead to one.

Mariano Rivera pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his 22nd save of the season.

Josh Beckett (16-6) gave up 13 hits and four runs over 6 2-3 innings.

Some notes from the game:

• Clemens had a no-hitter through 5 1-3 innings before the Ortiz home run.
• Cabrera had three hits on the evening. He, Jeter, Rodriguez, Hideki Matsui and Jorge Posada all had at least two hits.
• The 13 hits were the most Beckett has allowed all season.
• Manny Ramirez sat out tonight's game and could miss up to 10 days with an oblique injury.
• Luis Vizcaino pitched a scoreless seventh inning.

With the Yankees' win and a Mariners' loss, the Yankees now have a share of the Wild Card lead. They also improved to a record of 74-59.

Chien-Ming Wang will face Curt Schilling tomorrow afternoon, as the Yankees look for a sweep.

(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Game 132 notes: Yankees win 5-3

After last night's 16-0 debacle against the Detroit Tigers last night, the Yankees behind Andy Pettitte (12-7) rebounded quite nicely Tuesday night. Pettitte battled, giving up three runs in seven innings and throwing 120 pitches in the 5-3 victory.

The Yankees grabbed a 2-0 first-inning lead after a Johnny Damon leadoff single, a Bobby Abreu walk, an Alex Rodriguez hit by pitch, a Hideki Matsui RBI groundout and a Jorge Posada RBI double.

The Red Sox tied the game in the next two innings. Manny Ramirez hit a solo home run in the second inning and David Oritz drove in a run on a sacrifice fly in the third.

The score remained tied at 2 until the bottom of the fifth when Derek Jeter hit a two-out solo home run.

Boston once against tied the score, this time in the seventh inning, on a Jason Varitek solo home run.

The Yankees took the lead for good in the bottom half of the frame. Andy Phillips singled to start the rally. After Wilson Betemit came in to run for him, Melky Cabrera sacrificed him to second. Damon then hooked a ball around the right field foul pole for a two-run shot.

Daisuke Matsuzaka (13-11) took the loss. He gave up five runs and six hits over 6 1-3 innings of work. He threw 110 pitches. Mariano Rivera closed the game for his 21st save of the season.

Some notes from the game:

• Joba Chamberlain came into the game in the eighth inning to a standing ovation. He walked a batter and gave up a hit but also struck out two batters. In 10 innings as a Major League reliever, he has struck out 17, walked three and allowed only four hits.
• Jeter's home run was his first since August 1.
• Ramirez left the game in the seventh inning with spasms in his lower back.

The Yankees have a record of 73-59 with this victory.

Seattle has an early 5-0 lead against the Los Angeles Angels tonight. The Yankees are trailing by 1.5 games in the Wild Card, but that number would increase to two games with a Seattle victory.

Roger Clemens will face Josh Beckett tomorrow night.

(AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

Game 117 notes: Yankees win 5-3

The Yankees starters seem to love pitching to Jose Molina. Jorge Posada sat out for the third game in a row with a neck injury and Andy Pettitte (9-7) gave up two earned runs over 7 1-3 innings, as the Yankees swept the Cleveland Indians in this series and for the season Sunday afternoon.

Jason Giambi and Melky Cabrera added home runs and the Yankees recorded 12 hits.

Luis Vizcaino relieved Pettitte and gave up an inherited run. Mariano Rivera then made things a little hairy after getting the final out in the eighth inning. He gave up three straight hits, which scored one run, before retiring the next three batters in order for his 19th save of the season.

Jake Westbrook (3-7) started for Cleveland. He gave up four earned runs over seven innings. He also gave up nine hits, including the two home runs.

Some notes from the game:

• Cabrera went 2-5 to extend his hitting streak to 17 games.
• Giambi homered for the second consecutive game. He now has nine home runs on the season.
• Pitching coach Ron Guidry was ejected for arguing balls and strikes.
• Robinson Cano went 3-4, raising his batting average to .315. His numbers since July are absurd.
• The Indians only walked three times this series.

The Yankees improved to 66-51 on the season. They open up a three-game series against Baltimore at home tomorrow night.

Chien-Ming Wang will face Jeremy Guthrie in the opener.

With Seattle winning behind Jeff Weaver's complete game shutout, the Yankees remain in a tie for the wild-card lead.

(AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

Game 116 notes: Yankees win 11-2

Mike Mussina was dealing and Alex Rodriguez hit two more home runs. It was another ho-hum game for the New York Yankees Saturday night, as they beat the Cleveland Indians by a score of 11-2.

Mussina (8-7) gave up two earned runs over 7 2-3 innings, the most he's pitched all season. He also struck out six batters and didn't walk any. Out of his 89 pitches, only 20 went for balls.

Rodriguez's two home runs give him 39 on the season and his four RBIs leave him at 114 (he had 121 all of last season. It is August 11, by the way).

Paul Byrd (10-5) started for the Indians and did not last long. He gave up seven earned runs in two innings. He had a relatively easy first inning but fell apart in the second inning when the Indians gave him a 1-0 lead.

Some notes from the game:

• The victory was Mussina's 100th as a New York Yankee.
  
• All of the Yankees' starters had at least one hit. Jason Giambi came off the bench and hit a pinch-hit solo home run.
• The first five Yankees hitters (Johnny Damon, Derek Jeter, Bobby Abreu, Rodriguez and Hideki Matsui) went 11-27 with two home runs and eight RBIs. All had at least two hits as well.
  
• Jose Molina went 4-5. This was his first four-hit game of his career.
• Melky Cabrera went 1-4. He now has a 16-game hitting streak.
• Luis Vizcaino pitched 1-3 of an inning. He hadn't pitched since August 6.

The Yankees are now 65-51. They remain five games behind Boston in the AL East. They also remain tied with Seattle for the wild-card lead, as Seattle hung on to beat Chicago tonight.

Tomorrow, Andy Pettitte will face Jake Westbrook, as the Yankees look to sweep Cleveland for the season.

(AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

Chamberlain in Toronto

Joba Chamberlain made his debut in the Yankees' 9-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. I wasn't around to watch tonight's rather eventful game, so here is the recap from the AP. I won't even bother trying to write a fake recap.

His line: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 33 pitches for 19 strikes

He struck out the first batter he faced in the Major Leagues as well. Not bad for a first appearance.

(AP Photo/Frank Gunn, CP)

Game 112 notes: Yankees win 5-4

The Yankees came back from a two-run deficit to beat the Toronto Blue Jays by a score of 5-4 Monday afternoon.

Trailing 3-1 in the sixth inning, Bobby Abreu led off with a walk and then moved to second on an Alex Rodriguez single. Hideki Matsui singled in Abreu. The big blow then came on a Robinson Cano two-run double that gave the Yankees the lead. For good measure, Melky Cabrera drove in another run on a single to top off the four run inning.

Andy Pettitte (8-7) gave up three earned runs and six hits over 5 2-3 innings. He also struck out seven batters.

Luis Vizcaino gave up one run on a home run in two innings of work. I wonder if his absurd amount of work recently will come back to haunt him.

Scott Downs (1-2) received the loss in the relief. He gave up two runs in an inning of work.

Mariano Rivera struck out the side in the ninth inning to get the save, his 18th of the season.

Some notes from the game:

• Cabrera extended his hitting streak to 12 games. He went 3-4 with a triple and an RBI.
• Jim Brower made his Yankee debut. He went 1-3 of an inning and gave up a hit.
• Cano's two RBIs give him 65 on the season.
• Johnny Damon went 2-5 batting leadoff and playing left field.

The Yankees now stand at a record of 62-50.

Roger Clemens will face Josh Towers tomorrow night.

Game 111 notes: Yankees win 8-5

The hot-hitting Yankees scored eight more runs Sunday afternoon to sweep the Kansas City Royals. They only had eight hits, however.

Hideki Matsui and Melky Cabrera each hit a home run and Mike Mussina (7-7) surrendered only two runs in six innings in the Yankees' victory.

Bobby Abreu added three hits and two RBIs of his own.

Gil Meche (7-9) gave up six earned runs in four innings. This is the second time he lost to the Yankees since July 25.

Brian Bruney and Mike Myers combined to give up three runs out of the bullpen, showing that the Yankees are desperate for Joba Chamberlain. There is no excuse for making an 8-2 ballgame become a save situation. Speaking of which, Mariano Rivera recorded his 17th save of the season.

Some notes from the game:

• Alex Rodriguez was the designated hitter and Wilson Betemit played third base.
• Betemit collected another hit, as he went 1-4. As a Yankee, he is 5-10 with one home run and six RBIs.
  
• Johnny Damon sat out.
• Rivera saved his first game since July 18.
• The Yankees' four runs in the second inning all came with two outs.
• Cabrera extended his hitting streak to 11 games when he singled in the second inning.
• Matsui's home run was the 100th of his career. I wonder how much that ball will go for on eBay.
  

The Yankees are now 61-50 on the season.

Andy Pettitte will face Jesse Litsch tomorrow afternoon, as the Yankees travel to Toronto for three games.