Godzilla the Clutch: Hideki Matsui has been named the Major League Baseball Clutch Performer of the Month for August, reports MLB.com's Anthony DiComo. He hit 8 home runs and drove in 25 in 24 games.

What's Up with Wang?: Peter Abraham says that Chien-Ming Wang is out of his sling and was with the Yankees to watch a game for the first time since he had the operation. He's hoping that he'll be able to play catch in October and November - and that he and the team can work out a contract so that he can remain with the team.

You Can be a Champion: The toy wrestling champion belt that the Yankees were handing around earlier this season is up for auction. Bid now. It's up to 2,350.00 and the proceeds benefit charity.

Rock: Former Yankee Tim Raines talked to Jack Curry of the Times, discussing his impression of Derek Jeter.

Kennedy Progresses: The AP reports that Ian Kennedy say his first "game-type action" since his surgery to remove an aneurysm. He threw 35 pitches in two innings during a simulated game. He'll go again on Saturday, this time moving up to 50 pitches. Via Ben Kabak.

Jeter's Scout: Anthony McCarron at the Daily News caught up with the scout who discovered Derek Jeter, Dick Groch. Included is a photo of Derek Jeter in high school. Via Ben Kabak.

For the first six innings on Tuesday night, Chad Gaudin held the Rays scoreless on 5 hits and 1 walk. This included a strike him out, throw him out double play to end the fourth, when Jorge Posada threw out Ben Zobrist. To end the sixth, Gaudin picked off Carl Crawford. He had it working, let's say.

The Yankees, meanwhile, had scored two runs off of David Price. Nick Swisher homered in the second and A-Rod scored Johnny Damon on an RBI single in the sixth.

In seventh, Gaudin got into some quick trouble as he allowed a home run, a single and a walk to the first three hitters of the night. The bullpen came to the rescue.

First, Joe Girardi went to Damaso Marte, to face a pinch hitting Gabe Kapler. He hit a shallow fly ball for the first out. Next up, Brian Bruney came in to go against Dioner Navarro. Ground ball, runner out at third. Finally, Phil Coke was called. He walked the first batter, to load the bases, but came through with a ground ball for the last out.

Phil Hughes came out to start the eighth and immediately allowed a home run to Jason Bartlett to tie the game, earning himself a blown save. A single, fly out and double play later, he was out of the inning. The Yankees went down 1-2-3 in the eighth and Mariano Rivera came in to pitch the ninth, retiring the side in order.

A-Rod lead off in the ninth, but grounded out. This set the stage for Nick Swisher to hit his second home run of the night - this time, it was a walk off to give the Yankees win number 90. That's 26 home runs for Mr. Swisher.

Derek Jeter went 0 for 4, remaining at 2,718 hits all-time, still 3 back to Lou Gehrig.

Joba Chamberlain (8-5, 4.41) goes tomorrow against Jeff Niemann (12-5, 3.67). Game time is 7:05 PM ET.

Recap records: Seamus: 41–23, Patrick: 38–17, Andrew: 11–10

Peter Abraham reports that David Robertson has been shut down for the time being and has a date with Dr. James Andrews. He's been experiencing "tightness" after his appearances for two weeks.

Joe Girardi indicated that the team is hopeful that he'll be able to return. Robertson said that he did have an MRI that didn't show any injury. We'll have to see what Dr. Andrews says.

The Yankees got some good pitching and some timely hitting on Monday, outscoring the Tampa Bay Rays 15–2 as they took two from their division rivals. The Yankees moved to 9 games over the Red Sox in the A.L. East standings and are 11.5 games ahead of the Rangers, who are the top team on the outside still looking in. The Yankees also lead the Angels by 6.5 games for home field advantage throughout the postseason.

The first game was a tight one, as the two teams were still tied at one apiece after 7 innings. CC Sabathia was great, striking out 10 and allowing just 3 hits in 7 innings. The Yankees finally pulled ahead in the 8th, as a sac fly by Robinson Cano put the Yankees ahead by the score of 2–1. The Yanks would tack on another two runs in the inning to go up 4–1, which would prove to be the final score. Mariano Rivera closed the game out with a scoreless ninth inning in his first appearance since September 1.

Game 2 was a different story, as the Yankees pretty much had this game in the bag after an 8-run inning put them up by an 8–1 margin. Mark Teixeira homered twice in the game, leading the Yankees to an 11–1 romp. A.J. Burnett, who has struggled of late, was much better this time around as he allowed just a run on 4 hits in 6 innings of work. The win was the 89th of the season for the Yankees, matching their total from last season with 23 games still remaining.

Derek Jeter still trails Lou Gehrig by 3 hits in the chase for the Yankees' all-time hits record, as he was 0-for-4 in both games.

The Yankees will see young rookie David Price at 7:05 ET tonight and they will counter with Chad Gaudin.

Recap records: Seamus: 41–23, Patrick: 37–17, Andrew: 11–10

MLB.com's Thomas Boorstein reports that the Yankees have activated Brett Gardner, who had been sidelined by a thumb injury. Also, the team promoted Shelley Duncan from Triple-A.

The first round of the postseason in the 2009 Yankees Bloggers League has come to a close. Here are the results:

1. Eric of Pending Pinstripes defeated 8. Steve of The Yankees: Minors to Majors, 7-3.

5. Dave of Pride of the Yankees defeated 4. Patrick of YanksBlog.com, 7-3.

6. Greg of Sliding Into Home defeated 3. YankeeGM of Yankee GM Blog, 5-5 (the tiebreaker was ERA).

7. Dan of Pinstripes, Pa. defeated 2. Aziz of Pride of the Yankees, 6-4.

Congratulations to everyone who advanced.

» Read More

The Blue Jays were able to salvage a split in this four-game series, thanks in part to some lousy pitching and defense on the part of the Yankees. The Jays knocked around Sergio Mitre, Mark Melancon and Josh Towers and took advantage of some "Swiss cheese defense" as Clyde Frazier would say en route to a 14–8 victory for Toronto over the Yanks.

Sergio Mitre didn't get any help from his defense, but he didn't pick them up either. He lasted only into the 5th inning, being taken out with one out and the bases loaded after allowing 8 runs (6 earned). Mark Melancon entered the game in relief, and all three of the runners he inherited came around to score, leaving Mitre with a final line of 11 runs (9 earned) on 11 hits in 4 and 1/3 innings.

After recording just one out, Melancon was lifted in favor Josh Towers, who reintroduced himself to the Blue Jays' faithful by landing a pitch right into the face of Jays rookie Randy Ruiz. Ruiz was later checked out by a doctor and seemed to be okay, and hopes to be ready for game action as soon as tomorrow.

Towers was actually not bad from there on, as he pitched scoreless 6th, 7th and 8th innings to finish up mopping duties for the Yanks.

Offense was not a problem for the Yankees, as they got 3 hits from Derek Jeter and 3 RBI each from Nick Swisher and Melky Cabrera, but it was not enough this time as they were doomed by their sloppy defense (4 errors) and lousy pitching.

The Yankees will be back home tomorrow and they'll begin a 10-game homestand that will feature games against four different teams with a day-night doubleheader against the Rays. CC Sabathia will go up against Matt Garza in Game 1 (1:05 ET) and A.J. Burnett will face Andy Sonnanstine in Game 2 (7:05 ET).

Recap records: Seamus: 39–23, Patrick: 37–17, Andrew: 11–10

Over at the Daily News, Christian Red and Anthony McCarron have must read features on Jorge Posada and Derek Jeter, chronicling their rise through the Yankees Minor League system and their development as players.

MLB.com's Bryan Hoch reports that Mariano Rivera threw his scheduled bullpen session today and felt no pain. He could pitch Sunday.

Peter Abraham reports that the services of Kevin Cash were no longer required by the Yankees. He was released to make room for Josh Towers. Cash, 31, had seen action in 10 games for the Yankees this season, hitting .231.