This time the Yankees were holding the broom as they swept the AL Central leading Detroit Tigers. After Burnett held the Tigers to only 3 runs in the first game, and a pair of comfortably close 2-1 games, the Bronx Bombers find themselves once again only a single game behind the most obnoxious team in baseball.   They managed to beat a very talented Detroit team with strong pitching and timely hitting.

AJ Burnett provided better than average numbers on Friday with 6 innings pitched only allowing 3 runs. He didn’t have his nasty strike out stuff that has made him a recent fan favorite, but he did manage to get the Yankees to the 7^th and set up Hughes and Mo to close it out.

Hughes’ strong relief performance was then complimented by the hero of the day, Mark Teixeira, who wasted no time getting hot after the All-Star break going 3-5, including a 3 run homer in the bottom of the seventh that erased the one run deficit and gave the Yankees the lead and later the win.   Then the Yankees captured a pair of 2-1 wins thanks to strong starting pitching, secure relief and punctual hitting. Sabathia obviously took advantage of the time off going 7 strong innings, allowing only one run and 5 hits. He is going to need to put up numbers like that on a consistent basis if they expect to be feared come fall.

The two most reassuring performances over these past three games have to be those of Joba Chamberlain and Alex Rodriguez. A-Rod shook off a 0-4 night Friday and came back with game tying Solo Shots on Saturday and Sunday. His timely power will hopefully silence his critics enough to let him get hot as the summer wears on. Alex needed to come up big and he did with a bomb Sunday and a Yankee Stadium home run Saturday.

Joe Girardi must have let out a sigh of relief when Joba pumped his fists at the end of the 5^th inning Sunday afternoon. Joba’s display of emotion came after he pitched his way out of a 1-out, runners on the corners jam, getting the 3 and 4 hitters out to end the inning. He went deep into the 7^th inning and recorded 8 strikeouts. These numbers don’t only bring smiles to the faces of Yankees fans across the globe but also reassures the Yankees coaching staff that everything is OK.

Joba hadn’t pitched well since his last win (June 24^th) and his inability to go deep in the game was exhausting the Yankee Bullpen and his coaches’ patience. Joba gave himself his first win at this Yankee Stadium (almost unacceptable) and everyone on the team a break, causing the fans to boo when Girardi hopped on the field to take him out with two outs in the 7^th. With his pitch count hitting 107 Girardi decided to bring Phil Coke in whom only needed one pitch to end the inning.

If the Yankees want to think about playoffs they are going to need to secure 3 hurling starters. Starters who throw cheese and know it stinks. Three guys who can bring a Yankee Crowd to their feet and inspire the offence to hit. These three guys are it. They are key to the Bombers future this season and crucial when thinking of games 163 and beyond. It was reassuring to watch and was exactly what the Yankees needed considering the BoSox dropping two to the Blue Jays (thank you Roy).

Now the Yankees play host two teams that are both at least 9 games under .500 as of today. These are games the Yankees need and should win, even with Sergio Mitre as their 5^th starter. There isn’t much more room left for excuses as the Yankees leave the mid-way point and head for the end of the season.

This three game sweep by no means justifies a time to relax but it is an encouraging way to start the second half of the season. Baltimore shouldn’t give the Yankees any trouble as they continue to march steadily towards first place in the Division, American League and Baseball.