The Yankee Clipper: Yankees Take Series #1

It's early, but a series win is always sweet--especially against the Red Sox. Let's take a look at how we got there:

1. The Grandy Man Can. What a shot! That was the first extra-inning homer Jonathan Papelbon had ever allowed and the second extra-inning homer Curtis Granderson ever hit according to Baseball-Reference. Also from B-R, Granderson has 104 career home runs and 54 of those have come with no one on base and no one out. This one he'll remember for a while. After making the last out against Papelbum in Game 1 of the series, he put the dagger in him in Game 3. Sweet revenge for the Grandy Man (who got sung to by John Sterling). Let's see him do in in October now. 2 HR down, how many to go? Curtis!
2. This one comes from ESPN on a very odd record set: "The Yankees set a record for the modern era with their 17th straight win in regular-season games that were tied after seven innings. They equaled the 1906 New York Giants at 16 on Tuesday night." So if you're tied after 7 innings, they have won 17 straight and if you're losing after 7 innings they have Joba and Mo. You probably need the lead.
3. Well they would have had the lead had Daniel Bard not blown it in the 7th. Daniel Bard continues to struggle against the Yankees. They seem to have his number. In 2009, Bard gave up 5 home runs total--but 4 of those were served up to the Yankees. Last night, on an 0-2 count to Nick Swisher, Bard left one over the plate and Swischalicous smacked it into rightfield which scored...
4. ...Jorge Posada, who may be one of the worst baserunners I've ever seen. I know that he's slow, but jeez. The throw actually beat him there and his belly flop of a slide left him scrambling to get back home to touch up. Jorge does a lot of things well, but running the bases is certainly not one of them.
5. Chan Ho Park's redemption. It was a series of ups and downs. Granderson made the final out of one game and got the game-winning hit of another. Papelbon was lights-out in game 1 and got hit hard last night. Joba wasn't good in game 1 and was fist pumping in Game 2. It was "Chan Ho, and away we go" (H/T Calter) in Game 1 and last night it was 3 innings of redemption for someone who could be a very important piece in the Yankees bullpen.

Final thought: It's only three games into the season, but this was a really good start. This was typical Yanks-Sox. Either team could have easily won 1, 2 or 3 games in this series. The bullpens were tested. And the Yankees came out with two wins. On to Tampa Bay.

Update: Didn't see this before I posted. Maybe Joe West wouldn't be so mad if he would of, you know, called strikes. Others agree.