-What a difference a day makes for the Yankees? 24 hours after getting their butts kicked by the Orioles to drop a three-game series, they swept a Day/Night doubleheader to kick off the epic five-game tilt up at Fenway. Apparently, the Green Monster (Monstah) couldn’t hold back the Yankee bats from destroying Red Sox pitching to the tune of 26 runs in the impressive sweep of their biggest rivals which increased their division lead to 3.5 games (4 loss column). I wish I had enough time to comment in full about it but I don’t. So I’ll be quick. The first game which the Bronx Bombers won 12-4 was one they had to win because they had the advantage on the mound with Chien-Ming Wang against the immortal Jason Johnson. For a few innings, Johnson had his ballclub in the game but eventually, the Yankee bats came to life and knocked him out. In particular, Johnny “Everyone’s Favorite Idiot” Damon who hit a tiebreaking two-run home run in a three run fifth. Though the Sox chipped away to cut it to 4-3, Wang toughed it out even without his best stuff to keep his team ahead. A four-run seventh which featured big hits from Jason Giambi, A-Rod and Robby Cano broke it open. The Yanks tacked on four more in the ninth to win easily.

The second game was one you figured the Sox would turn the tables on them. Especially with Sidney Ponson on the mound. And after they battled back from 5-1 down and led 10-7, it looked like they would until two key plays took place involving improving Bomber rookie Melky Cabrera. With the Sox primed to go ahead by four on a Derek Jeter error, the left fielder nailed a runner at the plate to end the sixth. He has either 12 or 13 assists. But it was his big at bat against vet reliever Mike Timlin which got the comeback started. Showing great focus, he battled back from a 1-2 hole to work the count full before delivering an RBI single which cut it to two. After Damon popped out to left, Jeter had a similar at bat and then delivered a two out bases clearing double. It was his only hit in the longest nine inning game in major league history (4:45). He’s not an MVP candidate for nothing. Up a run, A-Rod extended the lead to two with a double and the ever dangerous Cano followed with a two-run single to complete the seven-run outburst. Six of the runs came with two out and helped them win a game they shouldn’t have 14-11.

Forget the meaningless David Ortiz ninth inning blast or A-Rod’s major-league leading 22nd error. (Did we just say that) This was a gutcheck. They easily could’ve rolled over and let Boston get the split and feel good about themselves entering the next three this weekend. But instead, the Bronx Bombers stepped on the gas petal and gave the Sox (Sahhhhhxxx) something to think about. In particular, Damon was outstanding notching three hits in each win along with a homer. He really has been on fire for a while. I believe that’s now 14 HR since the All Star break for the Bombers’ leadoff man. Are you kidding? Geez. In any event, it was a great start to the weekend for New York.

-Meanwhile, in a much more relaxed environment at Shea, the Mets took care of business against the Rockies 6-3. David Wright knocked in three and the underrated Endy Chavez (the Mets’ real right fielder) hit a two-run dinger. Even the rejuvenated Michael Tucker knocked in a run against the usually hittable B.J. Kim. Is it any coincidence they scored all six against the former D-Back best known for imploding in his team’s World Series victory five years ago? Nevermind that half that roster was on something. This topic was brought to our attention covering Staten Island Yankee games by the official scorer Kevin. As he astutely pointed out, if you go and take a hard look at that championship roster, get some pictures of Jay Bell, Mark Grace and Luis Gonzalez and compare it to their earlier days. The scariest aspect has to be Grace. He was 36 or 37 and looked beefed up. I wish I had a pic because it would define the words cheat. So remember that next time you watch Grace start off that ninth against Mariano Rivera with a base hit. But at least “he ain’t afraid of no ghosts.” Speaking of that team, has anyone discovered rising stars Junior Spivey or Erubiel Durazo on any milk cartoons lately? Just had to ask.
-Absurd discovery of the night: The red hot A’s were stopped in their tracks by the Royals by a combined score of 12-4. I know K.C. has some risers in Mark Teahen and Ryan Shealy but how was this even possible?

-Alfonso Soriano 40/40 Update: HR-39 SB-30 GR-40

It looks like it could be close.

-Random Thought. If you looked at Nats’ rookie third baseman Ryan Zimmerman’s season, he reminds us a lot of Wright. With three more hits in their win last night, he’s now at .288 with 17 HR and 83 RBI’s. During the season, he’s delivered some clutch walkoff hits. This guy has superstar written all over him.

-It’s ashame that defending U.S. Open women’s champion Kim Clijsters won’t be able to defend her title because of some meaningless U.S. Open Series tournament which she had to play where an injury occurred. I understand both tours want their best players to compete at all these events but when it starts taking its toll on some of the big names and affects the final Grand Slam of the season in Flushing less than 10 days away, it hurts big time.
-So it turns out all that “graduation talk” from recently retired Junior Seau was a load of bull. Just another way for a great athlete to tarnish his reputation. What does he have left to prove with the Patriots? That he can break into a lineup with the idolized Ted Bruschi and deliver as many hits (ah that new ESPN category made for the comebacking linebacker last year during a predictably annoying Sunday Night telecast which my Bills buddies Brian and Rob have never forgiven them for). What would you expect from a professional network? For the record, I like Bruschi. Always have loved the way he plays the game. And it took a lot of courage to return to gridiron. But come on. ESPN took it way too far with that ridiculous category. How many times did they have to air the same posh pieces?

-A music thought. When VH1 is stuck airing the Remaking of Vanilla Ice, you know we’re going straight to Hell. When exactly will they be redoing Milli Vanilli? Sorry.

-So Marion Jones failed a drug test after winning a race a couple of months ago. And this shocks people? Next.

-I realize he actually found someone he could knockout but why is Evander Holyfield still allowed to fight? That’s the problem with boxing.