1. The Comeback Continues: The Yankees proved over the weekend that their recent success has not been a product of a weak schedule. They swept the Indians by a combined 22-6 score, knocking them out of first place. With New York’s 5-3 win on Sunday combined with the Red Sox’s loss, the Yankees drew within four games of Boston for the first time since April. Andy Pettitte pitched 7 excellent innings, and the offense backed him up in the victory. The Yanks now have a 24-8 record since the All Star break, which no other team in the majors is even close to. After an easy series against the Orioles, they will face a murderer’s row of a schedule, with two series against the Tigers and one against the Angels and Red Sox. If they play as they have recently, that series against Boston could send the Yankees to first place.
2. Back at the Top: The Detroit Tigers just finished their worst stretch so far this season, but after two wins in a row, they’re back in first. However, they shouldn’t get their hopes up. They slumped in the easier part of their schedule, and now in the next two weeks they will face Cleveland five times and the Yankees eight times. At least Detroit’s offense is back on track. They’ve scored 26 runs their last three games, including an 11-6 win on Sunday. Magglio Ordonez hit two homeruns in the second inning, in which the Tigers scored eight runs. Ordonez, who has five homers his last eight games, passed both the 20 homer and 100 RBI marks in the same game.
3. Ridiculous Records: In what has been a season filled with milestones and records, two extraordinary but under-publicized records were tied on Sunday. First off, Placido Polanco of the Tigers tied the major league record for consecutive games at second base without an error with 143. He tied Luis Castillo’s mark, which was set earlier this season. Polanco has not made an error since July 1, 2006, and his 104 errorless games this year at second are the new single-season mark. Another, even more amazing record was tied by Bobby Jenks of the White Sox. Jenks has retired 41 consecutive batters, breaking an American League record and tying the major league record. Jenks has 13 2/3 consecutive perfect innings, a simply mind-boggling total. If a starter had set this record, it would be receiving a lot more attention.
Player of the Day: Jeff Weaver, Mariners: 9 innings, no runs, 8 strikeouts in a 6-0 win over Chicago. Weaver’s ERA (5.64) is lower than it has been all season.
