It's just like old times

Yankees' streak conjuring hopes

Baseball royalty, with its trademark pinstripes and hallowed history, swaggered into Fenway Park last night on a six-game winning streak.

In this era, such a Yankees streak is news, and you can practically hear the water-cooler conversation it's causing.

"The Bombers are rolling opponents? Their pitching staff is silencing lineups?"

During the days of Joe McCarthy and Casey Stengel (seven World Series titles each), a Yankees winning streak was ho-hum, as common as a sunrise.

Now the Yankees, under new manager Joe Girardi, have revived those traditional expectations with a sizzling start to the second half of the season. With consecutive three-game sweeps of Oakland and Minnesota and wins in 28 of their last 43 games, the Yankees entered last night three games out of first place in the American League East, a season-high 11 games over .500.

"Its baseball, man," said captain Derek Jeter. "Things happen. There's really no explanation."

After he said that, Jeter explained the hot start.

"We've been pitching."

Yes, but not just pitching well - better than anyone in baseball. Through July, the Yankees staff owns a major league-low 3.07 ERA in 164 innings. The starters have limited opponents to three earned runs or fewer in 13 of their last 14 games.

"Our pitching has been outstanding," said Girardi. "It starts with our starters. They've been great."

And the man it ends with - future Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera - has also been great. The question has been with the middle relievers who bridge the gap to Rivera, who has helped the Yankees to a 49-0 record when they lead after eight innings.

Righthander Kyle Farnsworth has pitched 10 consecutive scoreless innings, holding batters hitless in 28 at-bats. Fellow righthander Edwar Ramirez has retired 32 of his last 36 batters he has faced.

"Our bullpen has been great," Jeter said. "That's how you win games. You're not always going to go out and score eight, nine runs. You've got to be able to win those low-scoring games."

Girardi credited the Bombers' bats, which have been hot lately, and rightly so, considering the lineup is largely constructed of a payroll north of $200 million, the major leagues' highest. Second baseman Robinson Cano has been leading the way with a career-high six straight multihit games.

"They've done a tremendous job," said Red Sox outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury. "Their pitching, their offense - everything is rolling for them right now."

Girardi said there wasn't any particular message sent to the team about the second half.

"No. We sent the guys home, or wherever they went [at the All-Star break], told them to relax and come back and play," he said. "I think sometimes you get away for a couple days and you can slow things down a little bit in your mind and you can think about the situations and maybe some changes - slight changes - that you might make with your approach."

The manager said those four days off "seemed to work pretty well," but Jeter said the Yankees' run isn't anything special. It's ho-hum.

"The season is usually ups and downs," he said. "The low points, you try to limit them. The high points, you try to extend them."

Extending their current high point to a playoff berth is the goal, but it's not that surprising the Yankees are back in the pennant race.

"They're usually going to be in it to the end," Ellsbury said.

And here they are.