…and two more to go. The Yankees send Masahiro Tanaka to the bump tonight to extend their modest, but spectacular, four-game winning streak. His fly balls turn into homers with enough frequency that this could get dicey. He faces off against Colby Lewis, who never seems like much and the Yankees have handled pretty well throughout his career. So do we even need to reverse jinx this one? The 2015 Yankees have earned the benefit of the doubt in a game like this. Make it so, fellas.

Jacoby Ellsbury CF
Brett Gardner LF
Alex Rodriguez DH
Brian McCann C
Carlos Beltran RF
Chase Headley 3B
Garrett Jones 1B
Didi Gregorius SS
Stephen Drew 2B

And we cannot ignore the trade deadline. The Tigers just spiced things up by announcing they will be listening on David Price. This gives the Yankees a lot to consider in a short space. Between Cole Hamels and a decent contract for three years or David Price and no commitment after 2015 or just going with internal solutions, that’s a meeting I’d like to attend. Or at least get the jist of.

Once again: What the hell do I know? I figured the Yanks might take one on the chin last night. Chris Capuano did his part, bless him, giving up five runs in the first inning. The rest of the team didn’t get the memo. They scored 11 runs in the top of the second, 21 in the game. It was a gorging. Meanwhile, game ball goes to Diego Moreno, who relieved Cappy, and pitched 5.1 scoreless innings.

When you’re going good, everyone eats steak, huh?

Bring on the brisket!

Feast on this box score.

[Photo Credit: Paul Joseph]

Patch work night in Arlington. Feels like a game the Yanks should lose. It’ll say something about being on a streak they win tonight. Don’t know why I’ve got that feeling, just do.

Will say this, though. I liked the fire from Teixeira and Headley last night. This team has been too sloppy–on the bases, in the field–all year long. Hope they manage to correct that.

Jacoby Ellsbury CF
Brett Gardner LF
Alex Rodriguez DH
Mark Teixeira 1B
Chris Young RF
Chase Headley 3B
John Ryan Murphy C
Didi Gregorius SS
Brendan Ryan 2B

Cappy gets the start but it’ll take a group effort outta the pen.

Never mind the heat:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Picture by Bags

It’s fun when your team is winning, isn’t it? Even when they aren’t slick or efficient.

Last night, Didi Gregorious had a couple of big hits and made some nice plays in the field. He also had a base-running error and failed to tell Mark Teixeira to slide at home, to prove that he’s far from a polished product. Still, the Yanks will take it. Chase Headley continues to swing a hot bat, as does Teixeira (who was robbed of at least two hits), and Alex Rodriguez hit a solo home run on his 40th birthday.

Ivan Nova appeared to be tired but Chasen Shreve pitched two scoreless innings of relief, and Justin Wilson and Dellin Betances kept the Rangers off the board in the 8th and 9th. Annoyed to see Betances in there? I can relate. But that’s how it went down.

Another fine victory. Then again, aren’t they all fine?

Final Score: Yanks 6, Rangers 2.

And the Yanks are gonna need them because here come the Jays (and you’ve got to figure a starting pitcher will be added to their roster before the end of the week).

[Photo Credit: Owen Perry via MPD]

Ivan Nova goes tonight.

Brett Gardner CF
Chris Young LF
Alex Rodriguez DH
Mark Teixeira 1B
Brian McCann C
Carlos Beltran RF
Chase Headley 3B
Didi Gregorius SS
Brendan Ryan 2B

Never mind the brisket:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

[Photo Credit: Will Sanders/Getty Images]

Nathan Eovaldi pitched well yesterday. The work-in-progress is progressing as he pitched into the 9th inning  (never mind the final three outs were a chore, Dellin Betances eventually came in and reminded everyone that they aren’t so hard after all).

By then, Eovaldi had a plump lead. He didn’t strike out a lot of guys but got a couple of critical double play ground balls–including one lucky smash that was deftly picked by Didi Gregorious–to help him out of trouble. Chase Headley had the big knocks with some help from Garrett Jones and Stephen Drew.

Final Score: Yanks 7, Twins 2.

Wonderful job by the Yanks after getting blown out on Friday.

[Photo Credit: ANN HEISENFELT/AP]

You must forgive me for taking so long to get to last night’s happy recap. I think it’s just part of the deal when you’re in your 13th year of blogging. Some days the writing falls through the cracks. There are other commitments–other work, a wife, exercise, cooking–that get in the way. And that’s cool because I know you guys saw that game last night. Or if you missed it, I know you checked it out later, looking at the box score, videos, game recaps.

We all know it was one of those nights you get a handful of times each year–one to savor, one to remember. And it wasn’t just that Alex Rodriguez hit three home runs to keep his team in the game, he hit three absolute bombs. He crushed those balls, each well over 400 feet.

Course a natural reaction is to be suspicious. That’s the price all modern players have to pay, but especially a two-time loser like Rodriguez. And that’s just always going to be part of it for some people with him. I get that. But I’ve always enjoyed rooting for him so I feel as if this has been his most joyous season as a Yankee. Maybe he was really a good guy when he was really young with the Mariners too. But now, at the end (he’ll turn 40 tomorrow) he’s doing an Edgar Martinez impression and it’s a reminder that he is one of the great players. Total cheat, screwed up dude, but also great at baseball.

He’s got the day off today and so does the other hero, back-up catcher J.R. Murphy, who had the game winner. If Rodriguez’s home runs were no doubters, Murph’s looked like a long fly ball at first, good to get a run in from third, but then it just kept going and suddenly it had cleared that very high wall out there. Hilarious back-up catcher home run. He was amped like Tom Cruise in Taps when he got back to the dugout, too. That was pretty funny.

Now, let’s hope Sweet Nathan Eovaldi comes through with a big performance today. He’s got something to prove. Would’t be surprised if he tossed a dud, but I’ll be here rooting for him.

Jacoby Ellsbury CF
Brett Gardner LF
Mark Teixeira DH
Brian McCann C
Carlos Beltran RF
Garrett Jones 1B
Chase Headley 3B
Didi Gregorius SS
Stephen Drew 2B

Never mind the comebacks:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

[Photo Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn | USA TODAY Sports]

The Big Bopper’s on the hill tonight against the Twinkies.

Jacoby Ellsbury CF
Chris Young LF
Alex Rodriguez DH
Mark Teixeira 1B
Carlos Beltran RF
Chase Headley 3B
John Ryan Murphy C
Brendan Ryan SS
Stephen Drew 2B

Never mind Father Time:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

And yeah, Phil Hughes was good too. Naturally. But the story was Big Mike getting his tits lit as the Twins bombed the Yanks, 10-1.

The Yanks got 10 hits but only the 1 run. Best thing to do is to move along, there’s a new game tonight.

Picture by Bags

Ah, Phil Hughes, we hardly knew ye. Be nice to see him tonight and also nice to see the Yanks beat on him some as they start a three-town road trip. He’s had moments of very goodness since leaving New York but hasn’t shown too much of that season. Interesting to see what he’s got tonight. Same goes for Big Mike who has been good but not great for a while now.

Like to see Ellsbury get on a roll here…

Jacoby Ellsbury CF
Brett Gardner LF
Alex Rodriguez DH
Mark Teixeira 1B
Brian McCann C
Carlos Beltran RF
Chase Headley 3B
Didi Gregorius SS
Stephen Drew 2B

Never mind the room service:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Picture by Bags 

Who needs one-run games when you can win by six? That’s just what the Yanks did yesterday afternoon putting a 9-3 beatin’ on the Orioles. Tanaka pitched well and the Yanks leave town heppy kets.

It’s Tanaka time this afternoon in the Bronx.

Jacoby Ellsbury CF

Brett Gardner LF

Alex Rodriguez DH

Mark Teixeira 1B

Carlos Beltran RF

Chase Headley 3B

Didi Gregorius SS

John Ryan Murphy C

Stephen Drew 2B

Never mind the standings:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Picture by Bags

Andrew Miller gave up a solo home run to Chris Davis with two men out in the 9th inning last night because he didn’t want to end this odd little streak of one-run games. The homer narrowed the Yankees lead to 4-3 which is where it stayed when Jonathan Schoop struck out to end the game for the second game in a row against Miller.

Mark Teixeira hit a two-run home run early, and Alex Rodriguez hit the bejesus out of the ball later on for a solo home run which proved to be the difference.

Meanwhile, Teixeria continued to make nice plays in the field, with smooth, agile scoops of throws in the dirt. His fielding excellence is common enough to take for granted but it should be said that while Gardner and Rodriguez have had nice seasons, Teixeira has been their best player. Never would have called that at the start of the year.

Stephen Drew also had a beautiful defensive play, diving to his left to stop a ball in short right field. He gathered himself on his knees and quickly made an accurate throw to Ivan Nova covering the bag for the out. Play like that is why they’ve kept him around I suppose.

Picture by Bags

Wonder if it’ll be another one run game?

Jacoby Ellsbury CF
Brett Gardner LF
Alex Rodriguez DH
Mark Teixeira 1B
Brian McCann C
Carlos Beltran RF
Chase Headley 3B
Didi Gregorius SS
Stephen Drew 2B

And our dude Nova.

Never mind prosperity:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Picture by Bags

The Yanks have won 3 of 4 since the break, all by one run (the game they lost was by a run, too). We could point to certain plays and performances that’ve contributed to the wins, we could talk about fortitude, grit and character, and we can also sit back and just feel fortunate that luck has been on the  Yankees’ side. Because the difference between being 0-4, 4-0 sure feels slender, don’t it? And as we well know, it won’t last.

Nathan Eovaldi was pretty good again–touched 100 mph a few times–but failed to go deep in the game. The firm of Wilson, Betances, and Miller handled the rest, with a nice 9th inning fielding assist from Mark Teixeira. Chase Headley and Brendan Ryan had key hits as the Yanks edged out the O’s in a tough game, 3-2.

Many of us didn’t expect much from this Yankee team at the start of the season but now they are playing well enough so if they tank the rest of the way we won’t be shocked but certainly disappointed.

Picture by Bags

The Big Question Mark takes the hill against the Orioles tonight.

Jacoby Ellsbury CF

Brett Gardner LF

Alex Rodriguez DH

Mark Teixeira 1B

Brian McCann C

Chris Young RF

Chase Headley 3B

Didi Gregorius SS

Brendan Ryan 2B

Never mind the moisture:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Picture by Bags

You remember the Pedro formula, right? Stay close, chase him from the game, win it late against the bullpen.

Welp, that’s just what the Yanks did to King Felix and the Mariners  yesterday. C.C. Sabathia allowed one run, so did Hernandez.

It came to this: Game tied, bottom of the 8th, two outs and two strikes to Mark Teixeira who then lines a 98 mph Fernando Rodney fastball over the fence in right field.

That was enough to give the Yanks a 2-1 win, thanks to the combined relief efforts from the firm of Wilson, Betances and Miller.

Each game this weekend was decided by a run; pleased that the Yanks came out on top. Even happier for The Big Fella. 

Picture by Bags

Remember me? Robbie Cano from the Bronx?

Cano beat the Yanks yesterday, 4-3.

Today is broiling hot and the Yanks have the misfortune of facing King Felix. They beat him once this year. Something tells me they won’t do it again.

Jacoby Ellsbury CF
Brett Gardner LF
Alex Rodriguez DH
Mark Teixeira 1B
Brian McCann C
Carlos Beltran RF
Chase Headley 3B
Didi Gregorius SS
Stephen Drew 2B

Never mind the heat index:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Picture by Bags

It’s Big Mike this afternoon on an overcast day in the Bronx.

Jacoby Ellsbury CF
Brett Gardner LF
Alex Rodriguez DH
Mark Teixeira 1B
Brian McCann C
Chase Headley 3B
Garrett Jones RF
Didi Gregorius SS
Rob Refsnyder 2B

Never mind the humidity:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Picture by Bags

I got home last night, set to watch the game. The Wife had tentative evening plans with a friend but they fell through. So I put her in the car and we headed down to Manhattan in search of food. We’d heard of a decent Thai place in Hell’s Kitchen so there we were, against all common sense, stuck in Friday night, stand-still traffic.

But we had John and Suzyn and the game. Masahiro Tanaka gave up a couple of home runs but otherwise pitched well.

We finally parked, got to the place, and had a lousy meal. But we were so hungry by that point it didn’t matter. And although our little adventure didn’t completely kick the funk out of The Wife’s mood, it didn’t make it worse either, and that’s nothing to sneeze at.

Afterwards, we walked up 9th Ave, right around where my mother used to come 40 years ago to the spice district to buy all of her dry spices, when we passed a small cigar store called NYC Fine Cigars. The door was open and the smell of cigar smoke rolled out onto the street. A group of men sat on chairs, puffing away. A TV hung from the wall and as we passed I caught Alex Rodriguez circling the bases. I poked my head in and asked, “Is this live?”

The men said yes, and suddenly, our forgettable dinner was made better. Didn’t hurt a moment later when we saw a skinny but hairy Hispanic man dressed in skivvies, a tie dye tank top, and a floppy woman’s hat, saunter past us, doing what looked like a cross between Tai chi and the Cha Cha. In his own world, doing his own thing, a glimpse of the crazy old days in a sea of tourists and freshly-scrubbed young folks.

We listened to the final couple of innings on the radio as we sailed up the West Side Highway and got home just in time to see Andrew Miller strike out pinch-hitter–and former Yankee, Jesus Montero–ending the night with a pair of merciless sliders.

Final Score: Yanks 4, M’s 3.

[Photo Via: Paper Blog]