Last Night's Action: Yanks Start a Streak

• Yankees 6, Red Sox 2: Chien-Ming Wang didn't have his best stuff, but he still held himself together long enough for the Yankees to take the opener of this critical three-game series at Yankee Stadium. Alex Rodriguez homered for the third straight game, and the Yankees are back within single digits of the Red Sox in the American League East after winning their second straight game. Jason Giambi also hit a long blast. The offense is starting to come around. It wasn't going to stay at the levels of the recent road trip forever.

  People have been quick to panic with this team, one that will be hard-pressed to catch the Red Sox, but things probably aren't as bleak as the tabloids would have you believe. The Yankees pitching has been much better this month, and the offense entered Monday's play fourth in the Major Leagues in runs scored. A sweep in this series would be great, but the Yankees should settle for two out of three and move on.

Photograph of Red Sox player David Ortiz with former teammate and current Yankee Johnny Damon by Bill Kostroun/AP