-The Yanks finally got back on the winning track with an 8-0 shutout of the Orioles last night at home. Alex Rodriguez homered for the second straight game since returning and also drove in another on a drive which cleared the right field fence but was improperly ruled a double. It was the second blown home run call in the past few days. In Sunday’s blowout loss to the Mets, the umpires missed Carlos Delgado’s shot off the left field foul pole. No matter as the Bronx Bombers will take any win at this point snapping a four-game skid and remaining seven and a half behind Boston. Darrell Rasner continued to pitch exceptional working seven scoreless while fanning six for win No.3.

-The bigger news from last night was revealed by Joe Girardi afterwards when he told reporters that the Yanks have begun extending Joba Chamberlain in preparation to move him to the rotation. The 22 year-old Lincoln, Nebraska native got the final six outs walking a pair and striking out three. Is it the right move? We’re still not certain considering what the Yankee pen would look like. This has Hank Steinbrenner written all over it. Proof that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Does he really care what’s best for the team? I have my doubts.

-Meanwhile, the bigger news is being made across town where the Mets continue to make news on and off the field. Willie Randolph apologized for his comments pertaining to an Ian O’Connor piece in The Record in which he made race an issue in how he’s been unfairly portrayed. It’s obvious that the former Yankee second baseman is under the gun and feeling it. In an interview with WFAN’s Mike and The Mad Dog, he acknowledged that he didn’t realize it was on the record what he said to O’Connor. Obviously, saying what he said was a mistake. This isn’t racial. It’s about how his team performs on the field. However, I do agree with Willie on how SNY unfairly depicts the skipper when they shoot him in the dugout. He’s on to something there. Maybe that’s the orders coming down.

-If the Mets were consistently winning, none of this would’ve come up. That they followed a two-game sweep over the Yanks with three consecutive blowout losses to the rival Braves the last two days only has intensified the scrutiny that Randolph will be replaced. They shouldn’t just be a .500 ballclub through 44 games sitting fourth in the division. The good news is they’re only three and a half out with plenty of time left. Still, you wonder if Johan Santana doesn’t get it done tonight whether that will be the final straw for Randolph. If so, who do they replace him with? Jerry Manuel? Or do the Wilpons give Bobby Valentine a call over in Japan? Who knows? Unless their team starts playing better, there will be a change.

-Somebody finally figured out a way to beat Brandon Webb. The Marlins scored three runs in a 3-1 home win over Webb hanging the Arizona ace his first defeat in 10 starts. A suicide squeeze and a Cody Ross solo shot in the fifth put the Marlins ahead. Luis Gonzalez added an RBI hit in the home seventh for insurance. Webb went seven allowing three earned on six hits while striking out seven falling to 9-1. The Marlins improved to 26-19, a game and a half worse than the Diamondbacks.

-Can anyone get Josh Hamilton out?