Positive Captain

The Yanks will face the Red Sox tonight in the rubber match of the series. The Red Sox won by one run in the bottom of the ninth in the first game, and the Yankees won by one run in the second. This series is no different than most Yankee-Red Sox series..exciting, suspenseful games. This game is so crucial for the Yanks. They are currently tied for first place with the Orioles, with Tampa Bay two games behind. The Orioles swept the Rays in a 3-2 win today. They are currently .5 games ahead of the Yankees. That is why it is so crucial for the Yanks to win this rubber game against the Red Sox. With a win, the Bombers will be tied again with the O's.

The Yankee offense has picked up since their road trip to Tampa Bay and Baltimore. Granderson who was in a nasty slump has certainly shown signs of life again, hitting two home runs in last night's game against the Sox. He went yard in the 4th inning, scoring their first run, and then he hit a two run shot in the 7th. Robinson Cano homered in the 4th inning as well. Even though the Yankees are hitting home runs, they are getting more run support with the guys on base. Jeter got on base, as did A-Rod, which Cano and Granderson followed up with homers. The Yanks cannot rely just on home runs. They need to get guys on base, and keep up with their RBI's.

Derek Jeter left the game after he hurt his ankle after running down the line to get to first base. Jeter exited the game, against his wishes. Talk about a captain! Jeter is that positive face of this team. He is such a role model for his teammates and is the epitome of class. Jeter is in the lineup tonight as the DH. He has had an unbelievable season. The captain has 194 hits, 15 home runs, 52 RBI's, and a .324 average (3rd highest in the AL). Jeter's 1,845th hit against the White Sox in late August placed him ahead of Craig Biggio in 23th place on baseball's all-time runs list. In the same game, he hit his fourth hit of the night and 3,255th of his career, which tied him with Eddie Murray for 11th on the all-time hits list.

Phil Hughes (14-12, 4.13 ERA) is up for the Yankees against F. Doubront (10-8, 5.21 ERA) with Boston tonight. Doubront has been struggling as of late. He has given up at least four earned runs in his last five outings and has failed to pitch more than five innings or throw 100 pitches in any of them. Hughes has had his highs and lows. He has been very inconsistent for the Yanks. When he does perform well, he really performs well. Against the Red Sox in 2012, Hughes is 2-1 with a 2.19 ERA, last facing them on August 17, when he gave up for runs (all unearned) over seven innings in a 6-4 Yankees win.

Both the Yankees and the Orioles have very challenging schedules ahead. The Yanks face Tampa Bay in a three game series starting on Friday, while the Orioles are going up against the A's. The Yanks then face the Blue Jays, and Oakland. Hopefully the Bombers can stay strong, keep up their steady offense, and have success on the mound. As always, go Yanks!