This Week In Yankees Baseball: Subway Series Battle

May 15, 2014; New York, NY, USA; New York Yankees pitcher

(39) delivers the pitch against the New York Mets during the first inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: William Perlman/THE STAR-LEDGER via USA TODAY Sports

Well, hello there everybody. Welcome to This Week In Yankees Baseball. Mark Teixeira continued to swing a hot bat this week and the Captain got his final go ’round in a Subway Series.

After finishing up with the Milwaukee Brewers, the Yanks started a four series with the rival Metropolitans.

On Monday the Yanks faced their old buddy Bartolo Colon. It was not a cordial reunion, as they knocked Colon around for seven runs in 5 2/3 innings. Brett Gardner hit the second grand slam of his career. But it wasn’t enough as the Mets won 9-7.

Vidal Nuno got the ball in the second game of the series. Hopes were high because he had been steady in his recent outings. But Nuno was gone in four after giving up seven runs. The Yanks put up a valiant comeback effort, boosted by a two-run home run by Brian McCann, but fell short 12-7.

But the Bombers were able to turn things around on Wednesday. Once again, it was Masahiro Tanaka to the rescue. Teixeira and Yangervis Solarte homered to lift Tanaka to his sixth win.

And it was on Thursday that Derek Jeter showed one of the reasons that he is a great leader and teammate. Derek was removed late in the game by manager Joe Girardi. He showed the class of a champion as he backed up his career philosophy of doing whatever it takes to help the team.

The biggest news for Yankees fans was the successful major league debut of pitcher Chase Whitley. Whitley tossed 4 2/3 scoreless innings. McCann came home with the only run of the game on a double by Alfonso Soriano.

After a rain out on Friday, the Bombers blasted five homers on Saturday. Teixeira, Zoilo Almonte, Gardner, Soriano and McCann had the round trippers. David Phelps pitched five scoreless innings to get his first win of the season.

So a week that started slowly for the Yankees finished up strong. And, by the way, Masahiro Tanaka is still undefeated. We’re gonna keep saying it as long as he keeps it up. Not that we’re superstitious or anything.

After all the dust settled, the Yankees finished the week  tied with the Orioles for first place with a record of 22-19.

How About that!