Depressed Fan

The Yanks bounced back from their three-game losing streak in style, taking three of four from the Detroit Tigers. I watched the last three innings of today's game with a huge smile on my face for a couple of reasons.

First, Joba came in and absolutely dominated in the top of the seventh, holding the score at 4-3. Obviously, Joe was going to use him as a two-inning bridge to Mo. Then, the Yanks tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the inning. I was pretty sure Joe was going to send Joba back out there, thus making unavailable for the next two games, but Joe pulled a fast one. He went to Edwar Ramirez for the top of the eighth. Edwar didn't disappoint, he struck out the side in the top of the eighth.

The Yankee bats went back to work in the bottom of the eighth. With Mo warmed up and waiting for the save in the pen, Wilson Betemit knocked in another three runs with a bases-loaded double. Mo sat down, and Edwar returned to the hill for the top of the ninth. Game over.

Joe showed a newfound flexibility with his pen today, and the "Chamberlain Rules" have probably necessitated the change. Take a look at the pitching line for the two kids in relief: 3 innings, 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 5 Ks, 30 pitches, 21 strikes, one hold, one save.

No letter to the Skipper tonight, just a congratulations to Joe for tying Casey Stengel for second-most wins as a manager of the Yanks.

Player of The Game: Wilson Betemit. 2 for 5, 1 double, 4 RBI. His two-out single in the seventh saved the Yanks from using Joba for his second inning, and his bases-loaded double in the eighth let Mo get a day's rest. Huge at bats.

The Sox lost to the Angels at home today, so the deficit is back down to 4 games in the East. The Mariners are currently winning, if that score holds up, the Yanks will remain a half game behind Seattle in the Wild Card. The Tigers fall three games out of the Wild Card, two and a half behind the Yanks.

The Joba/Gagne graphic has been updated to reflect today's stats.