The Wizard of Oz has really been updated for current times. Now, in addition to Toto, Dorothy carries a bag from the 5th Avenue Apple Store with her. At least that's what Dorothy, played by Ian Kennedy, did as part of the Yankees' rookie hazing tradition where green players dress up in crazy outfits. We expect this version of The Wizard of Oz to come to an off, off, off Broadway location in the post-season. more ›

• Yankees 11 Mets 8: This game had a little bit of everything, a balk, a rain delay, four home runs, eight stolen bases, a switch-hitter batting righty against a righty and a sweaty finish for the Yankees. The Mets jumped out to the lead in the first after Tyler Clippard made the mistake of walking Jose Reyes. Reyes stole second and scored on a single by David Wright. Ruben Gotay homered to make it 2-0 Mets, but the Yankees tied it up in the bottom of the second. more ›

• Mets 2, Yankees 0: Poof! Just like that, the Mets' five-game losing streak and the Yankees' nine-game winning streak have been snapped. Oliver Perez shut down the Yankees for the second time this season, and Roger Clemens was good but not good enough in the loss. Jose Reyes and Carlos Gomez -- the two Mets speedsters and fans of untucking their jerseys within seconds of the final out -- supplied the two Mets runs. Given the teams' divergent paths of late, the Mets probably needed this game more. Their bullpen, a source of weakness during their stumbles, shut down the Yankees late. With Tom Glavine going against Tyler Clippard on Saturday, the Mets probably have the edge. Then again, Clippard already has one strong start against the Mets -- in his Major League debut.
• Sky 73, Liberty 66: Things don't look as rosy for the Liberty, losers of three of four. Shameka Christon and Tiffany Jackson were the only people in double figures, but they and their teammates didn't shoot that poorly or play that bad defense.

That all changed in the ninth. After trading runs in the eighth, the Mets started the inning with Delgado earning a walk. Carlos Gomez came into run for him and promptly stole second. He scored on a botched fielder’s choice and then the floodgates opened. Reyes and Chavez singled home runs and Carlos Beltran doubled to make it 6-1. Only some nifty relief pitching by Randy Messenger kept the Mets from doing more damage, but they had scored enough even though Billy Wagner pitched a shaky ninth. more ›

And win the Yankees did, answering the call and avoiding a total collapse at Shea. Jeter, Posada and A-Rod went deep while Tyler Clippard pitched six brilliant innings. This game will mean nothing at all if the Red Sox beat up on them tomorrow, but the Yankees have one night where they can feel like a good team again. more ›

Darrel Rasner's broken index finger sends yet another Yankees pitcher to the sidelines for as long as three months, and necessitates that Joe Torre call up yet another young prospect to deal from the mound for the Bronx Bombers. The candidate making his Major League debut pitching at an away game in the high profile Subway Series at Shea will likely be Tyler Clippard, a righthanded 22-year-old. Just nine weeks ago, Clippard acknowledged that as the 7th-best Yankees prospect ranked by Baseball America at the start of 2007, he wasn't too dispirited by the lack of attention he was garnering in comparsion to some of his teammates. What a difference a few months can make! more ›

• White Sox 4, Yankees 1: Despite entering the day leading the Major Leagues in runs scored, the Yankees offense hasn't looked great of late. White Sox starter Jon Garland became the latest opponent to shut down the Yankees bats, which were the main culprit on this 2-4 start to the road trip. Fans can't decide what to make of this team. Should they be glad their team is finally pitching better, or should they be upset the offense is wasting the newfound success on the mound? Probably the former. The Yankees and Mets square off for three games at Shea this weekend, and there's little doubt the Yankees need them more. more ›