Break out the brooms

The Yanks swept the A’s (their first three-game sweep in Oakland since May of 2005) on Wednesday with a 6-2 win, and the Rays also swept the Red Cox in their three-game set. So Tampa Bay sits two games back while Beantown is 4 1/2 games behind the pace.

AJ was on, throwing seven innings (110 pitches, he most since May 30) while giving up two runs on seven hits with three strikeouts to two walks.

Starters in this series were 3-0 with a 1.66 ERA and .200 BAA.

Swish Dog kept making his bid for the Final Vote (BTW Send Swish @ MLB.com, it’s the final day of voting!!!) by missing the cycle by a triple and recording his 10th three-hit game of the season but first homer and RBI since June 29th. Also, since being named to the Final Vote ballot Swish Dog is hitting .471 while Youkilis is nine for his last 50. (although Konerko is another strong candidate) SEND SWISH!!

Jeter went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored for his first multi-hit game since June 27th in LA. Since his career-long RBI drought, Jeet has driven in a run in two straight games.

However, prior to Tex’ three-run shot (his second of the series and 15th on the year) in the five-run fourth, the Yanks were 0-for-6 with RISP to go with four strikeouts. Yikes. Thank God they got AJ some run support.

The Yanks are now off to Seattle for a four-game set, the last series before the All-Star break. Here are the pitching matchups for the series:

Thursday: LHP Pettitte (10-2, 2.82) vs. LHP Jason Vargas (6-4, 3.22) 10 p.m.

Friday: RHP Hughes (10-2, 3.83) vs. LHP Cliff Lee (8-3, 2.34) 10 p.m.

Saturday: RHP Javy (7-7, 4.81) vs. RHP King Felix (6-5, 3.01) 10 p.m.

Sunday: LHP CC (11-3, 3.17) vs. LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith (1-8. 5.74) 4 p.m.

Did I mention how much I hate West Coast road trips?

LET’S GO YANKS!!!!!!!!