The Yankees’ horrific homestand against the White Sox and Tigers has finally come to an end. After a nice little road trip, and while the AL East was seemingly back in the balance, the Yankees come home and can’t even win a series against two teams playing for just about nothing. There would have to be a historic collapse by the enemy, and a historic rise by the Yankees, for The Bombers to have anything to worry about besides the AL Wild Card game.

They head West for the next 6 games, with 3 in Oakland, and 3 in Seattle. If the Yankees have a good showing, then they’ll probably lock up the home field advantage for the Wild Card game. What really starts to matter is getting to full strength, and weeding out guys like Tarpley, who aren’t ready for the intensity that is about to overcome this team in a few weeks.

GOOD

Boone’s body language in the private suite.

Stanton getting a rest day for once.

Gary going 1st-to-3rd on Luke Voit’s single.

Hech and Cutch keeping Lynn’s 3rd inning peaceful with their great glove work.

Andujar’s play to open the 5th, and Luke Voit’s stretch to ensure the out.

Sonny Gray getting through the 5th while only seeing 3 batters.

Miguel Andujar working a walk on 6 pitches, and he didn’t swing once. He started the winning rally on a 4 pitch walk yesterday. For a guy who doesn’t walk, he sure does walk a lot.

Gray getting out of the 7th unscathed after letting 2 on with nobody out.

McCutchen reaching base on a HBP. He’s reached base twice as a Yankee, and he’s been hit by pitches twice. Hicksie getting his OBP up with a walk to follow was also pretty nice.

The call the ump gave Gleyber on the fifth pitch of his at-bat, allowing him to walk the bases loaded in the 8th.

Gary running down the line.

BAD

Aaron Boone being suspended for this game, but I love what he did to get suspended.

Lance Lynn allowing a triple, and then a run, in the 1st. Another game where the Yankees are in a hole early against a team that usually loses.

Mahtook hitting Andujar in the hand/head with a throw to the plate. He’s still mad about Gleyber getting a game winning hit off of his head the other day.

Lance Lynn’s 2nd inning was rough after the first out, as he gave up the lead, and then loaded the bases, but it could have been worse.

Lynn’s outing was pretty terrible. He had the first out in every inning, and still couldn’t get out of the 4th. He didn’t give up too many hard hit balls, the triple being the only one that comes to mind, but he gave up 9 stinking hits, no matter how, that’s not going to do the job.

Tommy Kahnle, 1 pitch and 2 runs scored. Cone making a lame Jeffrey Maier reference.

Victor Reyes going 4-4 with a homer, 2 doubles, and a single. Gray and Voit picking him off the fourth time was a positive, at least.

Stranding Andujar’s lead-off walk, only their second baserunner after the 1st inning.

Me learning the names of players because they’re beating up the Yankees (I.E.: Goodrum).

Greg Bird’s warning track power getting everyone’s hopes up.

Tarpley’s debut.

Luke Voit going down looking to end the game.

YANKEES

Aaron Hicks tying the game in the Yankees’ second at-bat. No going down 1-9 in order today.

Miguel An-2-Har and Gary Sanchez combining to give the Yankees the lead in the 1st. Gary was making contact yesterday, and today he got an RBI his first time at the plate.

Hechavarria turning his first double-play as a Yankee, saving the lead, and seeing Luke Voit get pumped on the stretch.

LOUIS’ 5th homer on his second hit of the game, when the Yankees desperately needed some offense and energy in the 4th.

The family who brought their kids to their first game in O’Neill and Cone jerseys.

Miguel Andujar getting a bad strike call, and then hitting a ball way out of the strike zone, to give the Yankees a run in the 8th.

Neil Walker going down 0-2, but still getting a pinch hit RBI right off of Alcantara, literally.

Aaron Hicks and Miguel Andujar continuing to push one another in the 9th inning, even though they were down 6. It’s becoming a trend how often both these guys have good games on the same day.

Gary getting on in the 9th with a walk. Kept the game going, and showing he wasn’t trying to guess on every pitch.

Gleyber’s 7 game hitting streak.

Yankees 3 Stars of the Game

* Miguel Andujar (3 H, 1 BB, 3 R, 1 RBI, batting .301 overall)

** Aaron Hicks (24th HR, 2 BB, 2 R, 1 RBI)

*** Sonny Gray (4.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 K)