Yankees News and Notes: Runs for the Border

The Yankees pushed their winning streak to three with a 10-4 victory over the Blue Jays. Half of the Yankees' runs were driven in by Ichiro Suzuki, who registered the third 5 RBI game of his career (with a little help from the lights at Rogers Centre).

The Bronx Bombers needed the victory to maintain their lead over the Rays and Orioles, who both won by lopsided scores. In Baltimore, the star of the game was 20-year old third baseman Manny Machado, who belted two home runs in only the second game of his career. Machado became only the 15th player to have a multi-homer game so early in his career, joining Padres' catcher Yasmani Grandal, who also accomplished the feat in June.

Since reshuffling the lineup, the Yankees have scored 26 runs in three games. I wonder where Girardi got the idea?

The Yankees are catching the injury plagued Blue Jays at a good time. Third baseman Brett Lawrie is the latest member of the team to be placed on the disabled list, but the biggest void remains in right field. Since injuring his wrist against the Yankees on July 18, Jose Bautista has been out of action, which is bad news for Toronto, and all of baseball for that matter, but a fortunate circumstance for Yankees' pitchers. Since 1988, Bautista has the 10th highest OPS against the Bronx Bombers (minimum 200 plate appearance), making him one of the most dangerous Yankee killers of the past 25 years. Who has done the most damage against the pinstripes? He has a familiar face, and his presence on the list might help explain the irrational behavior of some Yankee fans.

Mariano Rivera has been making the rounds while rehabbing his surgically repaired right knee. On Wednesday, the Yankees' closer helped kick off the Real Madrid vs. A.C. Milan soccer match, and on Friday, he traveled up to Saratoga to present the trophy for a thoroughbred horse race that was recently named after him. During the appearance, Rivera stated that he continues to work toward a comeback, but refused to establish a timetable for his return.

Next year, the Yankees' best prospects could be playing for the Scranton Trolley Frogs, or maybe the Porcupines? In what promises to be a thorny subject for some, the team's AAA affiliate is in the final stages of deciding upon a new name. Six potential monikers are up for consideration in a public vote that concludes on August 24.

If he was still feeling perturbed by Tim Welke's inadvertent foul call during Thursday afternoon's game, Joe Girardi finally got some satisfaction. Before last night's game, the Yankee skipper learned that he will not be suspended for the tirade that followed his ejection.