Game 15 - YANKEES 5, Rays 3

Yesterday was Jackie Robinson Day throughout Major League Baseball, and every one of the Rays wore number 42 to commemorate the 61st anniversary of the day Jackie broke the color barrier in baseball with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Then, just like the Brooklyn Dodgers, they went out and lost to the Yankees.

It looks like everything is starting to fall into place with the team. The hitters seem to be getting into a rhythm. Pettitte's rounding into form. Except for a few notable exceptions, the bullpens done pretty well, too. So, we'll see if they can maintain a little momentum tonight and tomorrow against the Hated Red Sox when Chien Ming Wang takes the hill to try and shut the Sawx down twice in one week.

Speaking of Wanger, there's a really great piece on what a huge phenomenon he is in his native Taiwan over at SI.com. He's literally the most famous and most popular person in the country, and they say his pitching performance even effects their stock market. Great stuff.

Below is a picture of the Yankees' own #42 after closing out the game last night. The last active player to wear it, and, in my mind, he beats Jackie out as the best to ever wear it, Mr. Mariano Rivera:

Game 14 - YANKEES 8, Rays 7

So, Ian Kennedy (who has not looked that good) finally throws a decent game and the bullpen of Billy Traber and Brian Bruney (who have heretofore been excellent) come on and serve up 3 home runs to tie up what was a 7-2 game. Then Cano (who hasn't been able to buy a hit) comes off the bench (where he was napping during the game) to pinch-hit a home run that gives the Yankees an 8-7 lead they would never relinquish.

This is why they play 162 games and why I watch every one of them: you never what's going to happen.

Here's the happy Cano after giving the Yankees back the lead:

You can now view all the drawings I'm doing of this Yankee season over at my new Flickr set. I've also put a link up to it over in the panel to the right.