Let the Champagne Flow...

...and may the Steve Phillips and Mad Dog Russos of the world, shove it up their collective asses! I am not going to lie and say I was confident on July 1st that the Yankees would return to the post-season, but I never gave up watching/listening/hoping. And neither did millions of Yankees fans. Tonight we were rewarded.

The Yankees uncorked a blow out, beating up on the Devil Rays 12-4. Chien-Ming Wang won his 19th game for the 2nd consecutive season and Robinson Cano homered and drove in 5 runs.

In a scene repeated many times over the years, Mariano Rivera stood on the mound as the final out - in this case a Greg Norton pop out to Cano - was recorded. A jubilant, and is that ever understated, celebration ensued in the locker room with many of the Yankees youngsters energizing the party.

A tearful Joe Torre couldn't help but let his pride show through his emotions. And even owner George Steinbrenner was in the house. Seeing Andy Pettitte back where he belongs made a great night even more special. So was seeing Kim Jones soaked with champagne.

As for the game, it was only a contest until the 4th inning when the Yankees scored 7 runs. Already leading 2-1 on a Derek Jeter home run and a Cano ground out, the Yankees drove J.P. Howell from the game with a mix of timely hits, and battered the Rays bullpen. Jeter's sac fly gave the Yankees a 3-1 advantage and was the 2nd out of the inning. But with the help of an error by Josh Wilson to start the inning, the Yankees opened the flood gates.

Jorge Posada singled in 2 runs, Cano belted a 3-run home run, and Mientkiewicz, batting for the 2nd time in the inning, doubled in a run. The Yankees added 3 more in the 6th, which would be Wang's final inning. Joba Chamberlain tossed a scoreless 7th before Luis Vizcaino gave up a 2-run bomb to Jonny Gomes. But the plan was already in place for the Yankees Hall of Fame closer to enter and for another celebration to begin.

...

Robinson Cano's monster 2nd half continued. He's hit 13 HR and driven in 54 runs in 276 at-bats. He's also hitting better than .340 since the break.

Doug Mientkiewicz's post game interview with Kim Jones was special, as the Yankees veteran 1st Baseman clearly appreciated how much it meant for him to get back to playing this season. He talked about his moment with Joe Torre following the game, and how important the injured Andy Phillips had been to the team.