When you mix hot humid air with the best home run ballpark in the American League, add a touch of the Yankees' hot bats with just the right amount of mediocre pitching, you have the recipe for a very long night for Rangers' pitching coach Orel Hershiser. The Yankees touched the Rangers' staff up for six home runs last night as they won the rubber game of a three-game set in Texas by a score of 8 to 4. Jason Giambi and Tino Martinez each hit two, and Jorge Posada and Robinson Cano also homered.

What's almost forgotten in this game was a very effective performance by emergency starter Aaron Small, who made his first Major League start since 1996. Small looked very comfortable on the mound, allowing three runs on five hits in 5 and 1/3. He gave us more than Joe Torre could have asked for against one of the best lineups in baseball.

The bullpen got the job done again last night, allowing only one run in 4 and 2/3 innings. The combination of Tanyon Sturtze, Tom Gordon, and Mariano Rivera ("TanGorMo" as Michael Kay likes to call them) have been nearly flawless lately, although Gordon did allow one run in the 8th. Rivera pitched in a non-save situation, as the Yankees led by four runs when he entered the game.

The most notable performances of last night's game were undoubtedly Jason Giambi and Tino Martinez, who had two homers each. Both were significant because Giambi continues his hot hitting (he has his average up to .284 and his OBP at a sizzling .437), and also because home runs come in bunches as far as Tino Martinez is concerned. It would be great if Tino would get hot right now, especially considering the likely absense of Ruben Sierra for at least the next couple weeks.

The Yankees will be in Anaheim tonight to take on the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (I do believe that's the first time I've ever used that phrase). The Yanks will send Randy Johnson to the hill to face Bartolo Colon in the first game of a four-game set to finish out this 11-game road trip.