A-Rod finally got that huge gorilla off his back by hitting a 3 run HR for number 500. A big congrats to him. Hopefully, we can get back to the business of winning an MVP award now. Even with this little slump, coming into today, A-Rod still led the AL in home runs by 7 and RBI by 14. He's the only player in the game with 100 RBI (he has 105). Magglio Ordonez is next with 91.

Phil Hughes had a bit of a rocky return, throwing 92 pitches over 4 and 2/3 innings, allowing 6 ER on 7 hits, 2 walks and 5 strike outs. But, the pen was OK, allowing 2 ER in 4 and 1/3 IP. Myers, who relieved Hughes, allowed an RBI double (charged to Hughes) before retiring Alex Gordon to end the inning. Kyle gave up one of those earned runs (he wasn't brought in until we had a 5 run lead) and Villone gave up the other in the 9th. But, Bruney and Vizcaino pitched scoreless frames.

But, like I said, the Yankee O powered us through this one. 16 runs, 21 hits, 5 walks. Everyone who started reached base except for Johnny Damon, who had a rough day at the plate, going 0 for 6 and striking out 3 times. Everyone who started except Damon and Posada collected a hit, although Posada walked twice and scored 2 runs.

Jeter was 2 for 5 with 1 2B and 2 R, Abreu was 3 for 5 with 1 Hr, 4 R, 2 RBI and 1 BB (hitting .282), A-Rod was 3 for 4 with 1 HR, 3 R, 3 RBI, 1 BB and 1 SB, Godzilla was 3 for 4 with 1 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI and 1 BB, Cano was 4 for 5 with 1 2B, 1 3B (a HR short of the cycle), 2 R and 3 RBI, Wilson Betemit was 3 for 4 with 1 R and 3 RBI and Melky was 1 for 5 with 1 2B and 2 RBI.

Back to A-Rod, he becomes the youngest player ever to reach the 500 home run mark, beating Jimmie Foxx by 330 days.

With a win under our belt today, our attention now turns to the Tigers (who are half a game back to the Indians in the Central now and, as such, are the Wild Card leaders) and the Red Sox. The Sox have Matsuzaka going up against Jerrod Washburn of the Mariners while the Tigers have Jeremy Bonderman facing Javy Vazquez of the White Sox.

Tomorrow, we'll have Moose (6-7, 4.75) vs. Gil Meche (7-8, 3.70) at 1:05 PM ET.