Yankees Show Rays Who's Boss

It was an emotional night from start to finish at Yankee Stadium this evening as the Yankees and Rays squared off in the first game since George Steinbrenner's passing. The Yankees rallied from a pair of deficits to produce a dramatic 5-4 walk off win on Nick Swisher's single in the bottm of the 9th.

The evening started with solemn and tender tributes to the man known as "The Boss" and long time PA announcer Bob Sheppard, who passed away last Sunday. Mariano Rivera placed roses on home plate and the crowd stood in a moment of silence. Video tributes played throughout the evening and the PA booth was silent. And Derek Jeter spoke eloquently and emotionally about the man whose voice he revered and the boss that he had struck up a friendship with.

The Yankees seemed flat and the crowd was as quiet as the PA booth for much of the game until Robinson Cano and Jorge Posada connected for back to back home runs off James Shields in the 6th inning to tie the game at three apiece.

Down a run in the 8th, Swisher brought the crowd to their feet again with his 16th home run of the year, off Joaquin Benoit, to tie the game at 4-4. Benoit had allowed just two home runs in his previous 27.2 innings.

CC Sabathia was not at his best, allowing four runs (three earned) and four walks in seven innings. David Robertson struck out the side in the 8th and Mariano Rivera earned the win after tossing a scoreless 9th. Rivera's inning included a pick off of B.J. Upton after he reached with a lead off single.

Curtis Granderson has struggled against left-handers, but has succeeded against Randy Choate and did again tonight with a lead off single to start the home half of the 9th. Pinch-hitter Ramiro Pena sacrificed Granderson to 2nd base before Brett Gardner earned a one out walk.

Rays' skipper Joe Maddon went to right-hander Dan Wheeler to face Derek Jeter and the move paid off when the Captain went down swinging for the second out. But Maddon countered with another right-hander Lance Cormier to face Swisher. The Yankees right fielder had been 0-7 against Cormier, but ripped a line drive to right field to score Granderson ahead of Gable Kapler's throw for the game winner.

An emotional night ended with an emotional celebration and, of course, some pie courtesy of A.J. Burnett.