The game started out with two seasoned warriors living up to their reputations. Clemens vs. Schilling was all it was supposed to be. Clemens pitched six strong innings allowing only one unearned run and two hits. It was his first start in about two weeks after his recent elbow problems. Schilling was just as masterful until the eighth. He had allowed only one run until then, on a home run from Cano in the fifth to tie the score. Doug Mientkiewicz got a single but Melky Cabrera was retired. Torre pulled a rabbit out of his hat and pinch hit for Jose Molina with Posada already in the game as DH. The trick worked as Giambi smashed a double high off he green monster to put runners on second and third with only one out. On the first pitch to Damon, Schilling jammed him and Pedroia fielded the ball and held the baserunners before throwing to first for the second out.

Derek Jeter battled Schilling and eventually won the battle by launching a three run homer well over the green monster to give the Yankees the lead at 4-1. They would need all the runs.

Joba Chamberlain followed Clemens and was greeted with a double by Eric Hinske. The big right hander toughened and, after Hinske was sacrificed to second, he got Lugo to strike out and retired Ellsbury on a grounder to first to end the seventh inning.

In the eighth, Joba got the first two outs by retiring Pedroia and Big Papi but Mike Lowell then hit a homer off Joba, the first earned run he has given in his Major League career. He then struck out J.D. Drew to end the inning.

The Yankees couldn't add any extra insurance and Rivera was summoned for the bottom of the ninth. Jason Varitek worked a walk and then Rivera got Hinske and Crisp on ground balls to move Varitek to third with two outs. Julio Lugo doubled up the alley in left, scoring Varitek to make the score 4-3. Ellsbury was hit with the first pitch and Pedroia battled a walk to load the bases. With the drama at a fever pitch, Big Papi was up to bat and on a 2-2 pitch, Mo jammed him with a cutter and got him to pop up to Jeter in short center field to end the game.

The Yankees remain with a 2 1/2 game lead in the Wild Card with the Tigers winning again earlier in the day.

The Yankees now return home for three with Baltimore and then four with Toronto.