An Elite Win

It wasn't that long ago that it was unlikely that Mike Mussina would ever make another start for the Yankees, let alone win his 250th game. He did just that yesterday, as the Yankees overcame a 3-0 deficit and beat the Blue Jays 7-5 at a sun and fan filled Yankee Stadium. Mussina (11-10) became the 1st pitcher in major league history to win 250 games without the benefit of a 20 win season. He gave up those 3 runs to the Blue Jays in the 2nd inning, but shut the door on them after that, retiring the last 9 men he faced. Jose Molina lead the comeback with a 3-hit, 3 RBI day.

Luis Vizcaino gave up a 2-run HR to Matt Stairs (his 20th) in the 8th, but Joe Torre called on Joba Chamberlain with 2 outs in the 8th and the rookie came through again, retiring all 4 batters he faced, 3 by strike out. He celebrated his 22nd birthday with his 1st major league save. On Friday, Torre, GM Brian Cashman, and minor league pitching guru Nardi Contreras participated in a conference call to discuss amending the "Joba Rules" (unlike Michael Kay, we're not going to go into the details of them again). Ordinarily, Chamberlain would have not have been able to pitch on Sunday after throwing 2 innings and 30 pitches on Friday. But everyone realizes they can't use Mariano Rivera and Luis Vizcaino every game, and they'll need Chamberlain to pitch more regularly in the post-season, so why not groom him for that role now.

Molina, Johnny Damon, and Derek Jeter stroked RBI singles off Dustin McGowan (11-10) in the bottom of the 2nd, to answer the Jays 3 in the top of the inning. In the 6th, Robinson Cano put the Yankees ahead with an RBI single, and Doug Mientkiewicz and Molina added RBI singles as well. Molina drove in the final run with a double in the 8th.

The victory moved the Yankees back to 1.5 games of the Red Sox in the AL East, but Ed Price of the Star-Ledger reported this morning that a source close to the situation said that if the Yankees clinch the Wild Card, they will call off the dogs and prepare for the post-season. The Yankees cite 2005 as an example of chasing the division to the wire and then beating physically and mentally beat in the playoffs. The Angels beat them in the 1st round of the ALDS that year.
The Yankees reduced their magic number yesterday to 2 to clinch the Wild Card spot, with the Tigers hanging in with a victory over the Royals.

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Derek Jeter was having a disastrous September, but has now put together a 10-game hitting streak. He's 21-48 (.438) during the streak, which has left him just 3 hits shy of his 6th 200 hit season.

Jose Molina has given the Yankees what they have been looking for, a catcher who was not only reliable defensively, but could swing the bat some too. Molina was hitting just .224 when he was acquired from the Angels, but the .242 career hitter is batting .321 (17-53) as a Yankee. He's also got an .811 OPS.

photos courtesy of AP

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