Call Me Crazy but that Felt like October Ball: Yanks win in honor of Stienbrenner, Sheppard

Wow, that was just flat out nuts. I mean what a freakin' game. The Rays come into town with baseball's second best record behind the Yanks, and let me say that's about as exciting and gut-wrenching baseball can get. Baseball like this in July with the two best teams squaring off? Damn what a treat.

Even before the first pitch was underway there was a surreal feeling in the air. A buzz in the Bronx if you will. Jeter ask's the sell out crowd for a moment of silence, Mo places two roses on home plate- one for the Boss, one for Sheppard. Cue the goosebumps. Baseball is just a crazy game like that sometimes. Upon Jeter's request I couldn't help but think that I would give the man a colonoscopy with my big toe if he asked me, but that's neither here nor there.

Rays pitcher James Shields looked pretty solid early on, holding the Yanks to two crusty hits through the first six innings. But, we all know this game can change on one pitch- just ask Robbie Cano. Battling with two strikes, Mr. "Don't ya know!" sent a seed missile into the Yanks pen. 3-2 Rays.

The very next at bat, Shields works a 3-0 count to Posada. With much success against Curtis Granderson, the batter on deck, I was sitting at home playing manager. "Oh he's defintely gonna walk him now, he owns Grandy." How about NAAAAAA! Posada instead drills one over the right field wall. Absolute bomb, and such vintage Posada in the clutch. Hey Shields, How do Cano and Posadas' balls taste? Up until that inning he was making the lineup look foolish until Robbie and Jorge decided to use Shields' chin as a resting place for their nut sacks. Boom!

Let me tell you, as good as Swisher has been this season so far, some games he just has a mental block and makes bonehead running plays on the bases, in the outfield, and sometimes in both. Early on was a rough game for Swish. He had a RBI single, but a misplayed ball in right, and an overthrow of the cut off man in the later innings nearly cost the Yanks the game.

But tonight redemption was in the cards for my boy Nick Swisher. Game tying blast in the bottom of the 8th. Huge bomb. Then he comes back in the bottom of the 9th and drives in Grandy on another RBI single- this time the game winner, and first walk off of the season for him.

This game felt awfully like a postseason matchup, and it very well could be a preview of the American League Championship Series. Two evenly matchup squads, late inning lead changes, mixing and matching pitchers and hitters. Top that off with a Yankee walk off and all of a sudden the somber atmosphere that had focused all its energy on remembering, was now celebrating in honor of two of the greatest Yankees ever.

Pie was on the menu tonight baby.

-Dbl-A