Revenge of the N.Y. front office

Tonight was the revenge of the New York front office, with three Yankee steals hitting homers to vault the Bronx Bombers past the Boston Red Sox 5-2.

The Yankees nabbed Johnny Damon out of the free agency market from under Boston's nose a few years back, then repeated the process while outbidding the BoSox for Mark Teixeira this year. And everyone remembers the bitter taste left in Boston's mouth when A-Rod chose the Bronx over Beantown.

Tonight, all three New York steals belted homers.

A-Rod, the new Red Sox-slayer, used his picture-perfect swing to put the ball past the fence in the same place as Friday night (or Saturday morning), breaking up an 0-0 tie once again, this time in the bottom of the 7th.

His bomb was especially important because the Yankees were facing a great pitcher in Jon Lester, whom New York had never beat (before tonight's game, Lester was 3-0, with a 3.43 ERA in six starts against the Yankees in his career, and 1-0 with a 3.46 ERA and 17 Ks in two starts this year). Lester had retired the previous nine batters before the home run.

One inning after A-Rod went yard, Damon plunked one over the fence, then Teixeira hit a towering fly that settled into the right upper deck. This is the sixth time this season Damon and Teixeira hit back-to-back home runs, a Yankees record.

Their blasts started a Yankee hit parade that put New York comfortably ahead 5-2, enough to leave a cushion for Mariano Rivera to close the game. (The rampage was interrupted by a two-run homer from Boston's Victor Martinez, who broke up a 31-inning shutout by New York pitchers when he scored. But I think the Yankees were just letting the Sox in to get their hopes up before crushing them again.)

With the win, the Yankees completed their four-game sweep of the Sox and jumped ahead six-and-a-half games in the American League East standings (the Rays are eight games back). New York still has the best record in the majors.

This was an awesome series, through and through, from the slugfest on Thursday night to the standoff on Friday, to the balanced attack on Saturday to tonight's late-inning explosion. The Yankees showcased their best batters, untouchable starting pitchers and a bullpen that is looking rock-solid.

Next up, New York hosts the Toronto Blue Jays.

In individual rankings, Rivera leads Major League Baseball with 32 saves, out of 33 chances. Teixeira leads the American League in home runs with 29.

And in case you're wondering, David "I didn't use steroids" Ortiz was 1-for-14 this series. Beautiful.

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1-0 so far

Let's leave those other Red Sox-Yankees series behind us and consider the one occurring today through Sunday, which New York now leads 1-0.

Tonight's 13-6 win by the Yankees had many beautiful moments.
Take your pick:
1. David Ortiz, the meat-headed juicer, going 0-for-5
2. Joba Chamberlain recording his third win in a row (he's now 8-2)
3. Three-run dingers from both Jorge Posada and Melky Cabrera
4. 3 RBI from Hideki Matsui in his recent return
5. Mark Teixeira tying the American League lead for home runs with his 28th deep shot (he was 3-for-4 on the night)
6. Johnny Damon going 3-for-5 with a homer
7. Robinson Cano batting 2-for-4, raising his average to .309
8. The largest crowd in the new Yankee Stadium (49,005)
9. Torching John Smoltz in the third inning (but really, who didn't
see that coming?)
10. Well, we could go on for a while...

And in the obligatory standings update, that puts New York up three-and-a-half games on Boston, with Tampa Bay six behind. Another three wins by New York could even the Yankees up with the Red Sox in the American League East loss column (a potential tie-breaker at the end of the season, if needed).

Oh, and this win gives the Yankees the best record in Major League Baseball, tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Good night.

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In your face, Red Sox dopers!

What!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz, the two sluggers who anchored the Boston Red Sox lineup on its way to World Series in 2004 and 2007, have been tagged for using steroids.

Ramirez and Ortiz were both named in the 2003 report that implicated Alex Rodriguez and a total of 100 MLB players.

I am almost speechless, unable to make the thousands of points cramming into my head, at this news. Euphoric? Yes. Trying to say something that involves the word "tainted"? Also yes. Pleased that the Curse of the Bambino could only be broken with juice? Yes, yes, yes.