At first glance it is easy to draw the parallel between the 2007 Yankees and the 2006 team. Once again the Yankees’ bats are the strength of their team and once again they are facing an underrated team from the AL Central with very good pitching. But, as much as the parallel works, there are three key differences with this Yankees team that makes a repeat of last year’s first round flameout unlikely. more ›

• Yankees 6, Indians 1: The Yankees played well against the soft part of their schedule and last night, against an actual playoff contender, they continued their recent winning ways (they've won 20 of the last 27 games). In his second start since returning from a May leg injury, Hughes, a key player in the future of the Yankees rotation, pitched brilliantly. He allowed only one run over 6 innings to the AL Central-leading Indians. Equally as impressive as Hughes, if not more so, was Joba Chamberlain who pitched perfect 7th and 8th innings. Chamberlain picked up one strikeout in the 7th before striking out the side in the 8th. The win put the Yankees in a tie for first-place in the Wild Card standings and gave them the same record as the Mets (not that it matters).
• Marlins 4, Mets 3: Perhaps it was the cold weather that pushed Billy Wagner into the blown save territory last night. Wagner, who hasn't exactly inspired confidence recently, blew only his 2nd save of the season. Wagner allowed a two-run double by Hanley Ramirez in the 9th to spoil the return of Carlos Beltran from an oblique strain. Beltran had the go-ahead, three-run homer in the 5th inning, but the Mets were unable to capitalize on a night that the Braves loss.
• Cyclones 4, Doubledays 3: Brooklyn won its third straight game last night by defeating the Doubledays. The Cyclones took the lead in the 7th with a two runs in the inning. Doubledays starter Marc Rzepczynski had a career high 10 strike outs in six innings of work.

- Yankees 14, White Sox 3: It's always encouraging when you can beat one of the best teams in baseball. Even better when you beat them comfortably. At the end of the day though, a win is a win and the Yankees remain 1.5 games behind the Red Sox for the AL East lead and only 4 games behind the White Sox for the Wild Card. Who says the Wild Card has to come out of the AL Central? In drubbing the White Sox, every yankee starter reached base more ›

In game one, Mike Mussina gave up three runs in the first inning and the Yankees managed only one run and three hits off Johan Santana. Lucky for the Yankees, the Twins have already clinched. Santana was pulled after five innings to rest for the playoffs which begin next week. After Santana left, the Yankees were free to have their way with them - okay, not really, but they notched four runs in the 7th inning and went on to win 5-3 (box score). more ›

Last night, Mike Mussina took the hill against Cliff Lee. Lee started the season 10-1 but has been hit hard of late. Bernie Williams lead off with a double and quickly scored on a Derek Jeter single. In the second inning, the Yankees scored twice more on a Tony Clark home run. Mussina had a 30 cushion going into the second inning. That lead was reduced rather quickly with a Travis Hafner walk, a Casey Blake double and a Ronnie Belliard two RBI single. more ›