It wasn't pretty, but the Yanks escaped Tampa with three wins in four attempts and pushed their record one game above .500 yet again.

Mike Mussina didn't have it and the bullpen took turns coughing up runs, but the Yankee offense and defense came through when it mattered most as the Bombers edged the D-Rays 7-6 at The Trop.  The Red Sox lost on Sunday so the Yanks now stand 9 games back of Boston in the AL East.

The Good:

Andy Phillips.  Phillips got the Yanks on the board with an RBI triple in the fifth to cut the Tampa lead to 3-1.  Actually, D-Rays center fielder B.J. Upton over-ran the ball and misplayed it into a triple, but Phillips hit it hard.  Then with the score tied at 5-5 in the eighth, Phillips laced a single to left which brought in Matsui and gave the Yanks a 6-5 advantage.  But Phillips made the defensive play of the game in the bottom of the inning when he speared a line drive off the bat of Dioner Navarro and then doubled-up Josh Wilson at second.  Phillips also made another nice defensive play when he beat Carl Crawford to first on a grounder and then crashed into the speedy outfielder after recording the out.  Andy sure was busy on Sunday.  Phillips finished 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored and 2 RBI.

Derek Jeter.  The Captain gave the Yanks a short-lived 4-3 lead in the fifth with his 7th homer of the year.  Jeter also hustled for an infield single in the eighth which drove in the Yankees seventh and eventual game-winning run.  El Capitan finished 2 for 4 with a walk, a run scored, a stolen base and 3 runs batted in.

Mariano Rivera.  The bullpen did it's darndest to blow this game, but Rivera came in and slammed the door.  It wasn't easy, but The Sandman overcame a leadoff bloop single in the ninth and Posada's catcher's interference to notch his 13th save of the season.  Rivera's early season problems are now a distant memory.  Mo's final line: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K.

The Bad:

Mike Mussina.  It's difficult to watch The Moose's career spin down the crapper, but that's exactly what's happening.  If you just look at Mussina's line, you could make the case that he worked through six innings without his best stuff.  You COULD make that case, but Mussina has pitched poorly all season long.  He was in trouble in nearly every inning and even the outs were hit hard.  Now, Mussina did get squeezed on a couple of calls by home plate ump C.B. Bucknor, but that didn't factor into the barrage of hits he gave up.  The Moose's numbers would have been a lot worse if not for Melky Cabrera's two assists during the game.  Also, the D-Rays swiped three bases on Mussina's watch.  Mussina's no decision: 6 IP, 11 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 0 K.

Kyle Farnsworth.  Worthless.  Farnsworth is absolutely worthless and I have no idea why Joe Torre continues to use him in the eighth inning.  The eighth began with the Yanks up 7-5 and within two minutes the score was 7-6.  If Andy Phillips doesn't make that defensive play, the Yanks could have been looking at a demoralizing loss.  Kyle's work: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 0 K.

The Ugly:

Really?  I hadn't noticed.  Joe Torre "revealed" in an interview that this season has been his toughest in pinstripes.  No kidding.  How exactly is this a story?  You got me.  I'm sure this article hasn't made it any easier for Joe.

The Yanks head back home and will welcome in the Toronto Blue Jays for a 4-game set beginning on Monday night.  Josh Towers, who may be the only starting pitcher in the majors that wears a single digit number (the number is 7), takes his turn for Toronto and Kei Igawa toes the rubber for the Yanks.  Hopefully, Phil Hughes will be ready to come back shortly so the Yanks can jettison Igawa right out of the starting five.

The climb toward the playoffs rolls on.