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The Yankees needed extras to defeat the first place Rays 2-1 sweeping the brief two-game series at The Stadium this afternoon. Bobby Abreu’s one out walkoff double to the right center gap scored team captain Derek Jeter all the way from first giving the Bronx Bombers their fourth consecutive win pulling them seven over .500 at 49-42.

Most importantly, it allowed them to gain another valuable game on the majors’ best team, who fell for the third straight day allowing Boston (18-5 winners over the Twins) to pull within two games while the Pinstripes now trail by six and a half.

The Yanks couldn’t have asked for a better outing from righty veteran Sidney Ponson, who went the first six only permitting a tying solo shot to Tampa first base slugger Carlos Pena. With the game knotted, the Yankee pen did the job thanks to scoreless frames from Jose Veras and Kyle Farnsworth paving the way for closer Mariano Rivera to work the ninth and tenth striking out a season high four over two scoreless.

The Rays got a solid six and a third from Edwin Jackson allowing just an early run on a Jason Giambi RBI single which scored Jeter back in the first. He gave way to J.P. Howell, who was very tough not allowing a hit in two frames while fanning three.

With the game still tied entering the 10th, Grant Balfour who relieved Howell in the ninth getting Melky Cabrera swinging and catcher Jose Molina to groundout walked Jeter with one out setting the stage for Abreu to be the hero. The third-year Yankee right fielder had never had a walkoff hit since coming over to the Bronx from Philly but that changed when he drove a two strike offspeed pitch to deep right center allowing Jeter to round the bases without a relay throw.

A happy Abreu was then doused with Gatorade by Cabrera and buddy Robinson Cano before doing an interview with YES’ Kim Jones, who enjoyed the festivities.

It marked a big win for the Yanks who really needed to take both games against Tampa to have any chance of getting back in the hunt. Just remember, they don’t do it without Rivera, who somehow escaped a bases loaded no out jam against the Red Sox striking out a couple to help them take the final two of a four-game home series a few days back.

The durable 38 year-old veteran fireballer continues to defy logic by throwing the ball as well as ever stifling opponents while lowering his ERA to 1.06 in notching his fourth win. Counting today, Mo has now fanned 50 in 42.1 IP while permitting just 23 hits and walking only four including Cliff Floyd today.

His numbers are amazing. It’s all about location. So many batters just give up on that outside pitch taking it for a called strike three. Just ask Manny Ramirez who took three straight on the black. Rivera is just amazing and if the Pinstripes do comeback to qualify for yet another October, it will be largely because of how consistent No.42 has been.

Simply the best.