It was all setup for the Mets to sweep the Yankees on Sunday night, but rookie Tyler Clippard had other ideas.

The Bombers were going with their 11th different starting pitcher, but Clippard exceeded everyone's expectations and helped guide the Yanks to a 6-2 victory over the Mets at Shea.  

The Good:

Tyler Clippard.  The "Yankee Clippard" was outstanding in his big league debut.  He could have folded in the second after giving up a homer to David Wright and then a double to Shawn Green, but the lanky righty settled down and gave the Yanks six superb innings.  Clippard has a herky-jerky motion and wraps the ball around his leg before he delivers.  This funky delivery confused the Mets and kept them off-balance all night.  Clippard also laid down a sac bunt and picked up his first Major League hit with a double.  Not bad for his first day on the job.  Clippard's first career win looked like this: 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 3 BB (one was intentional), 6 K.  

Derek Jeter.  Jeter's homer in the fourth inning gave the Yanks a 4-1 lead and also gave Clippard some breathing room.  DJ finished 2 for 4 with the dinger, a double, 2 runs batted in and a run scored.  

Jorge Posada.  Posada ripped his second homer in two days and helped guide Clippard through his first start.  Posada continues to lead the league in hitting with a .382 average.

The Bad:

Mariano Rivera.  I don't care about the homer Rivera gave up in the ninth, but it did take Mo 27 pitches to get through the inning.  It's been difficult to get Rivera into a rhythm this season.  It's a Catch 22; the more save opportunities he gets, the better his control will be.  The Yanks just have to give him the chances.

The Ugly:

Jason Giambi and steroids.  Giambi's statement about steroids is blowing up right in his face.  On the one hand, you have to admire that he's the only player who's come clean (sort of) in this whole steroid fiasco, but his timing was terrible.  What did he have to gain by making his statements?  Who knows?  Now, MLB is looking to investigate and the Yankees may be trying to void his contract.  Nothing like closing the barn doors after the horses have already escaped.

The Yanks will head back to the Bronx on Monday and open up a three game set against the Red Sox.  The rotation is setup perfectly for the Yanks as they'll send Chien-Ming Wang on Monday, Mike Mussina on Tuesday and Andy Pettitte on Wednesday.

Can this one game get the Yanks back on track?

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