The faces were different on Thursday night, but the results were the same.

Phil Hughes was solid through seven, Alberto Gonzalez and Bronson Sardinha both picked up their first big league hits and super-sub Jose Molina broke a 1-1 tie with a two-run single in the seventh to lead the Yanks past the Devil Rays 3-1 in Tampa.  The Yankees also used Joba Chamberlain again -- the first time the rookie reliever has pitched in back-to-back days.  He looked a little fatigued in the early going (maybe it was the consecutive days, maybe it was the late night celebration), but he finished strong and struck out B.J. Upton with hard cheese to end the eighth.

Also of note, the Red Sox lost so the Yanks are still alive for the AL East crown.  The Yanks are two back with three to play.  Really, the Yankees are one back since they won the head-to-head series with Boston this year (10-8).  Let's see what happens.

The Good:

Phil Hughes.  It looked like Hughes was going to be victimized by the "B" lineup on Thursday.  The Yankee rookie was locked in a tight pitcher's duel through six before the offense broke through with two runs in the seventh.  Hughes used all of his pitches effectively against the D-Rays and was economical -- a virtue that's eluded him in previous starts.  It's been an up-and-down year for the 21-year-old, but Hughes finished strong.  He ends September with a 3-0 mark and a 3.24 ERA.  Nice job, rook.  Hughes improved to 5-3 on the season with this: 7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 5 K.

Jose Molina.  The unsung backup catcher came through again for the Bombers.  His two-run single drove in Shelley Duncan and Robinson Cano with the winning runs.  Molina also did a great job guiding Hughes, Chamberlain and Veras through tough patches in the ballgame.  It doesn't even matter that Molina struck out three times in the game (the Yanks K'd 12 times as a team).  Molina finished 1 for 4 with 2 ribbies.

Alberto Gonzalez/Bronson Sardinha.  The rookies both collected their first major league hits on Thursday night.  Sardinha reached on an infield single in the third and Gonzalez lined a single to left in the sixth and scored the Yankees first run.  The last time two Yanks picked up their first big league hits in the same game?  It was Oct. 4, 1980 against the Tigers.  The immortal Ted Wilborn and the legendary Roger Holt did it that day.  Gonzalez finished 1 for 2 with a walk and a run scored.  Sardinha finished 1 for 3.

The Bad:

Jason Giambi.  The Giambino has been in a bit of a tail-spin.  He entered Thursday's game hitting an anemic .154 in September and those numbers will be going down.  It will be interesting to see how Torre addresses first base in the post-season.  Will he give Giambi the start and hope he turns it around?  Or will he go with the hot-hitting Mientkiewicz (who's hitting a sizzling. 455 in September) and the better glove?  Giambi finished 0 for 4 with 2 Ks.

The Ugly:

We're off to see the Wizard.  I was so fixated on the Yankees clinching on Wednesday that I failed to mention this.  The last road trip of the regular season is a time for the veterans to have some fun with the rookies.  The Yanks used a Wizard of Oz theme and it was pure genius.  All of the rooks had to dress as a character from the classic film.  Great stuff.  I'm not sure which was funnier -- Shelley Duncan dressed as the Scarecrow or Kei Igawa fixed up like a flying monkey.  Go judge for yourself.

The Yanks head to Baltimore for three to wrap up the regular season.  Mike Mussina will try and stay perfect in September (3-0, 1.93 ERA) and make a claim as the No. 3 starter come next week.  Jon Leicester gets the ball for the Orioles.