Right now, if you told me that Alex Rodriguez was faster than a speeding bullet or could leap tall buildings in a single bound -- I would believe you.

A-Rod ripped two homers, both of them coming in an eight-run Yankee seventh, as the Bombers waxed Seattle 10-2 in the Bronx.  Phil Hughes pitched his best game in nearly a month and Joba Chamberlain picked up his first big league win as the Yanks took two of three from Seattle and now lead the wild card race by three games.

The Good:

Alex Rodriguez.  A-Rod had an MRI on his right ankle before the game and the Yanks almost scratched him from the starting lineup.  However, Rodriguez wouldn't be denied and talked Joe Torre into penciling him in as the DH on Wednesday night.  Good move, Joe.  A-Rod's solo shot in the seventh tied the score at 2-2 and ignited a furious Yankee rally.  It's rare to see a home run rally the troops, but that's exactly what Rodriguez's clout did.  The Yankees did next to nothing against Seattle starter Jarrod Washburn up to that point, but you could just feel after A-Rod's homer that the home team was on its way.  Once again, the final score doesn't indicate it, but this game was a pitcher's duel for almost seven innings.  That is, until A-Rod's A-Bomb.  And then just for good measure, Rodriguez went deep in his second at-bat in the inning to give the Yanks a 9-2 cushion.  Unreal.  A-Rod finished 2 for 3 with a walk, 2 runs scored and 3 RBIs.

Yankee catchers Jose Molina and Jorge Posada.  Yep, this catching hybrid also came up big against the Mariners.  Molina was the only offense for the Yanks until the seventh.  His first home run in pinstripes (and first overall this season) sliced the deficit in half at 2-1 in the third inning.  Molina also did a solid job catching the young Phil Hughes.  Molina finished 2 for 2 with a run scored and an RBI.  Jorge Posada came in to pinch-hit for Molina with the bases loaded in the seventh and worked out a walk to give the Yanks a 3-2 lead.  Again, the final score doesn't show it, but it was a huge at-bat at the time.  Posada finished 0 for 0 with 2 walks and the go-ahead RBI.

Joba Chamberlain.  Chamberlain pitched a perfect seventh and picked up his first win in the majors.  Joba has yet to give up a run in 12.1 innings pitched this season.  That's pretty damn impressive.  It was Chamberlain's first appearance since almost plunking Red Sock Kevin Youkilis nearly a week ago.  Good to see that his arm doesn't rust.  Joba's night: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K.

The Bad:

Shelley Duncan.  Duncan was the only Yankee regular who didn't reach base by either a hit or walk or drive in a run.  C'mon, Shelley!  Duncan did contribute on defense, however, as he gunned out Raul Ibanez who tried to stretch a single into a double in the sixth inning.  Atta boy, Frankenstein!  Duncan finished 0 for 3 with a K.

The Ugly:

The number five.  Seattle skipper John McLaren used five pitchers in the seventh inning -- five! -- (six if you count Jarrod Washburn who started the inning) and every single move didn't work.  The Yanks exploded for eight runs in the frame and after a while, the moves bordered on ridiculous.  It reminded me of the old gag where a VW bug pulls up and clown after clown comes out of the car. 

Thursday is an off day for the Yanks as they head to Kansas City to take on the Royals for a three-game set.  Rookie Ian Kennedy will make his second start on Friday night against KC ace Gil Meche.  Kennedy shined in his big league debut against the Devil Rays (7 IP, 5 H, 3 R [1 earned]) and picked up his first victory.  He'll make his first start in the Yankee greys.  Meche is 0-2 against the Bombers in 2007 with a chunky 8.92 ERA. 

Looks like an off day is the only way to keep A-Rod from crushing another homer.