The Yankees are in command now in both the A.L. East and wild card races as they moved a game ahead of both the Red Sox and Indians after defeating the Orioles 2-1 at Camden Yards. Shawn Chacon pitched another gem as he gave up a run on only four hits in 6 and 2/3 innings. The Birds got off to an early lead after Javy Lopez launched a solo shot to left field in the 2nd inning. The Yankees tied the score in the 6th with A-Rod's 47th home run of the season. Derek Jeter put the Yankees on top in the 7th with a base hit that scored Jorge Posada. Mariano Rivera pitched a 1-2-3 9th inning to record his 43rd save.

Of course as is always the case in late Septemper and early October, the stars have aligned themselves in a way in which the Yankees could move ahead via the Red Sox getting destroyed at home by the long-since-done Toronto Blue Jays and the Indians losing a 1-0 game at home against the Devil Rays, who have one of the most horrid pitching staffs in baseball. Somehow I feel like even if every Yankee player went blind for the last week of the season, we'd still find a way to prevail in the end.

This win is significant because as I mentioned to Patrick, if the Yankees win just 2 of their remaining games, the Sox and Indians would both have to sweep the remainder of their schedules to knock us out of the postseason before Monday. Patrick pointed out that would be impossible since if we won 2 games, that would mean that the Red Sox would have to lose one because of the head-to-head this weekend. So 2-2 the rest of the way and the worst that we can do is have to play a tiebraker game. Also, last night's win guarantees we won't be trailing the Red Sox going into that final series at Fenway Park.

Tonight Aaron Small will try to become the first 10-0 pitcher in Yankees history and the Yankees will try to hold on to their lead in both the A.L. East and wild card races. Erik Bedard will be on the mound for the O's.