Three three-run homers. It’s tough to beat that hand.

This was an important game for the Yankees – because it was Pettitte on the mound against Garland. New York had to win this game. Why? Follow this logic…

Sidney Ponson starts tomorrow for the Yankees and Darrell Rasner starts on Sunday. How do you think those two are going to do against the Angels?

Also, Mike Mussina pitches on Saturday. And, that day will be a mess for the Yankees. There’s going to be seventy old-timers in the Yankees clubhouse before the game – and tons of media – with it being the last Old-Timer’s Day at the Stadium. Bottom line…it will be a zoo. It’s going to be a huge distraction for the Yankees team. And, we know how well Mussina does when things are not “typical” for him.

Honestly, I can see the Angels pounding Ponson tomorrow. And, I can see the zoo-nature of Old-Timer’s Day being something that will be an issue for the Yankees on Saturday. So, say the Yankees end up losing on Friday and Saturday. Add this loss. That puts Rasner on the hill, Sunday, against the best team in baseball, trying to break a three-game losing streak for his team. No pressure there, huh?

Oh, and, by the way, Ponson will be facing All-Star Ervin Santana, Mussina will face Jered Weaver, and Rasner gets to face John Lackey (and his ERA of 2.93).

We could be looking at a sweep now…given that Pettitte failed in this one and New York played their way into a “L” tonight.

Just a side note…Kay, Flaherty, and O’Neill (in the YES booth) were convinced that Edwar Ramirez went after Kevin Millar on purpose. Hey, I’m all for moving this dolt off the plate – in fact, the Yankees are five years too late in that department. But, there’s a way to do it…and perhaps a better time too.

With the Angels coming to town, Edwar Ramirez cannot afford to get himself suspended…now.

Stupid move.

Click here to hear it.

(I’ll probably have more to say tomorrow, after I cool off.)

Update, 7/30/08. 9:25 am ET: More thoughts on this game…

Rasner only gave up 2 runs in the first six innings. I’ll take six innings and two runs from my number four guy in the rotation every time. Sure, he lost it in the seventh, but, the pen should be able to help him out there. Marte? Hey, I warned you – way back in March. For the last two days, Mad Dog Russo on WFAN has been going on, and on, about how the Yankees ripped-off the Pirates…getting Marte “the best lefty specialist-slash-closer in baseball.” At the least, maybe this will now shut up Russo for a day on that insane rant. Rivera? Hey, that look on his face when he allowed that homer just about says it all.

Switching gears…is it just me, or, is George Sherrill the John Wockenfuss of pitchers? His pitching delivery is just as funky as Wockenfuss’ batting stance.

To big thumbs up to Peter Abraham for summing up the state of the Yankees with this one:

Get this, the Yankees are 4-10 at home against the Orioles, Indians, Tigers and Reds.

Those teams are 74-124 (.374) against everybody else on the road. If the Yankees don’t make the playoffs, it’ll be because they didn’t take care of business at the Stadium.

The Yankees just cannot afford to keep losing these games – with just two months left to the season. Yes, it was great to see them try and fight their way back in this one – and I give them credit for that. But, this loss was a killer. Even the G.M. is feeling it. Via the Bergen Record:

Brian Cashman exited the elevator door into the lobby of Yankee Stadium, frustration etched in his face and obvious in his words.

“I hate this game,” sighed the team’s general manager, who just minutes before was bouncing the back of his head off the compartment wall.

I feel you on that one Cash.

More importantly, let’s focus on the Yankees offense.

Throw out every run that New York scored today. They were all “garbage time” runs. For the first six innings of this game, the Yankees had no stick – whatsoever.

Now, go back to the game before this one. In that contest, the Yankees only scored two runs.

Granted, two games before this one, the Yankees scored ten runs. However, most of that came from beating up Justin Masterson and Craig Hansen – two pitchers of limited major league experience and success.

And, in the game before that ten-run game, the Yankees only scored one run – and that came on a cheap, gift, hit.

So, when you boil it down, the Yankees offense has not been impressive, on the whole, in their last four games.

Sure, the Yankees bats did do well in those three games against the Twins – which came before this four game spell. However, in the eight games before those three games against the Twins, the Yankees bats also (somewhat) struggled to score runs.

Cano, Jeter and A-Rod have been swinging well in the last four weeks (or so). And, Damon has been acceptable – when he’s played this month. But, Abreu has been just O.K. (overall) and Jason Giambi has killed the Yankees in his last 21 games. Throw in the good-field, no-hit, guys like Jose Molina and Melky Cabrera and it’s not a pretty picture…as many days the Yanks line-up is half-dead.

If I have to peg two guys in all of this, it would be Abreu and Giambi. For the most part, Abreu bats third and Giambi bats fifth. You expect a lot of production from those two slots in the line-up…and it’s not happening, lately, for the Yankees. And, until it does, expect the Yankees to continue to have issues scoring runs against decent to very good pitching.

Still, the Yankees had a chance to make it a game…top of the fifth inning…down by five…bases loaded, no outs…and their meaty part of their line-up due up: A-Rod, Nady and Cano. But, none of those three could reach base safely or plate any runs via an out…and then this game was basically over.

So, the Red Sox kicked the Yankees fanny in this one – just as the New York spanked Boston on their rear end in the game before this one. An eye-for-an-eye. Factor in that Friday’s game was sort of a tie…with the Yankees getting a lucky run to win it…and I would say that this series was a push. Neither team showing that it was better than the other. Makes sense…they have split 12 games, so far, this season.

These two teams will meet again in a month – on August 26th. Should be fun.

From what I heard on the radio, and gathered together once we were home this evening, it looked like Andy Pettitte gutted it out after he was forced to work some in the first inning – giving the Yankees a respectable six frames.

And, once you got past the seventh inning – where the Red Sox managed to get the tying run to the on-deck circle with one out – the game was in the bag for the Yankees…thanks to some weak pitching from Boston’s Craig Hansen in the eighth. (Although Hansen gained himself some Red Sox Nation favor when he drilled A-Rod with a pitch.)

The Red Sox really seem back on their heels these days. I’m sure the whole “Manny” thing doesn’t help. Good effort by the Yankees, again, today, to keep the Sox from getting up on their toes.

It’s also nice to see the new guys, Nady and Marte, get right into action today. Also good to see LaTroy Hawkins sent packing and Kei Igawa taken off the 40-man roster. And, it makes sense, now, to have Brett Gardner return to the minors for regular At Bats.

Hey, today, the Yankees and I were doing the same thing – just having a fun day at the park. Gotta say “Thanks Yanks!” to that. When things synch-up like this…for me…it makes it a lot easier to sleep at night. Good day with the family. Nothing to lament about in Yankeeland. If that’s not a mental version of a summertime hot toddy…then nothing is…

What can you possible say about Joba Chamberlain? How about “Move over Mel Stottlemyre and take 1964 off the board?”

An awesome job by Chamberlain to make that one gift run (that the Yankees “scored”) hold up. Sure, the plays by Melky and Cano in the second inning were web-gems. But, tonight was all Joba.

I love Andy Pettitte. And, what Mike Mussina’s done this season has been magic. But, right now, you can make a case that Joba Chamberlain is the ace of the Yankees starting staff. And, if the post-season started right now, I want Joba to get the ball for Games One, Four and Seven.

Oh, did Chamberlain throw at Youkilis? Let’s be honest. To me, the answer is yes. Know what? That’s just another reason why tonight is so much different from four years and a day ago.

Two last items…

I guess Kyle Farnsworth still has a little Kyle Farnsworth in him? Good job by General Joe to pull the plug on him – and quickly.

And, I finally figured out who Coco Crisp, of the Red Sox, reminds me of…

It’s “Elaan of Troyius” from Star Trek (The Original Series). Not sure yourself? Well, check this out:

Pretty impressive the way that the Yankees handled the Twins, today – and this whole series. Add that to the way the Yankees handled the A’s in the series before this one. Hey, this is not the same as pushing around the M’s, Astros, and Padres. Both the Twins and the A’s came into Yankee Stadium with decent records. It’s great to see the Yankees take on good teams – and win…often.

It’s also great to see how the Yankees are doing it lately…hitting with runners in scoring position, taking advantage of extra outs given to them (like on the rock pulled by Alexi Casilla today in the fifth), pitching well…in terms of both the starters and the bullpen.

Since the All-Star break, the Yankees have looked…from top to bottom…and from inside to out…like a team firing on all cylinders.

Speaking of peak performance…today, the Moose Magic continues…

…bottom line, the Moose is just flat-out getting jiggy with it this season. And, it’s a pleasure to watch this hero type season from Mussina…

It was also nice to see how this game was won – in terms of who made contributions for New York. The Yankees pitching was on point this evening…Rasner, Robertson, Veras, Farnsworth…and even Mr. “I pitch now about once every ten days”…aka Dan Giese.

And, it was even nicer to see some guys who were not contributing earlier in the season – but, who have come on in the last few weeks – drive in key runs…like Jeter, Abreu and Cano.

The Yankees should be the talk of the town tomorrow…pitching and hitting well, reaching new heights (in terms of their record) this season, winning 9 games now in a row at home, moving in on the leaders in the A.L. East…yet, it’s not going to happen. Why?

Did you see what happened in Queens this evening? Holy shades of last September, Batman! Think Willie Randolph cracked any smiles this evening over this one?

Hey, maybe I’m wrong on this…and maybe the media will give the Yankees the props that they deserve tomorrow…in the papers, on the radio, and on the tube…

…nah, right?

Well, either way, as Yankees fans, we can deal with it…it’s all good. Hey, bring on the dancin’ girls!

I think the lady in green, in the back, must be a Pavano. She quit way before the dance was over.

Dude (and dudette’s), the Yankees are streaking! This is now 8 wins in a row at home. Then again the Yankees own the Twins in the Bronx. Minnesota is now 3-17 at Yankee Stadium over the last seven seasons.

Lastly, here’s a bit of news via the AP -

Oft-injured RHP Carl Pavano, coming back from elbow ligament replacement surgery, could be back this year. In the final season of a $39.95 million, four-year contract, Pavano has made just 19 starts with New York. “There’s certainly a chance for him to pitch in the majors this year if everything goes right,” general manager Brian Cashman said.

Sure. Laugh at that…if you want. But, then again, Cashman found magic with Ponson…

So, who knows about Pavano? Maybe he will make a comeback this season in the Bronx?

Imagine…the Yankees make the post-season in 2008…and either Sidney Ponson or Carl Pavano starts a “Game 4″ in a post-season series for New York…yeah…it just might happen, right?