Last Night's Action: Winning Streaks

Photograph of teammates congratulating Yankee Bobby Abreu on his 10th-inning, game-winning hit by Kathy Willens/AP

• Yankees 2, Rays 1: Things don't get much more efficient than this. In the span of about 21 hours, the Yankees picked up two games on the first-place Rays by sweeping a two-game series. Sidney Ponson pitched six innings of one-run ball, and the suddenly dominant Yankees bullpen kept Tampa Bay in check. In the 10th inning, Bobby Abreu decided he had seen enough. He doubled in Derek Jeter with a ringing shot up the gap in right center. Ponson is doing it with smoke and mirrors, but the Yankees have little choice at this point. Despite an offense in need of a jolt, the Yankees have won four straight.
• Mets 5, Giants 0: If the Mets continue to not give up any runs, who knows how long this winning streak, now at five games, will last? Even if the Giants don't represent the strongest offense in baseball -- they don't -- the recent run of success by Mets pitching is impressive. Johan Santana had his start cut short by rain but still threw five innings and got the win, his first in six starts. Ramon Castro's three-run homer in the fourth inning was the big blow. He's played more under Jerry Manuel than he did under Willie Randolph. What a novel concept! Play the guy whose offense more than cancels out his defensive deficiencies.