It would have been an unacceptable conclusion to what began as a stellar home stand.
While Jorge Posada was seeing a Manhattan neurologist nfl jersey
for tests that ultimately came back negative on a possible concussion, the Yankees were two outs away from being swept three straight at home by lowly Baltimore for the first time since 1986.
But Nick Swisher reversed that negativity with one hefty swing Wednesday. His two-run, game-winning homer to the opposite field in the ninth inning halted the Bombers' three-game losing streak and vaulted them to a 3-2 win over the Orioles at the Stadium.
"It's my day," beamed Swisher, who also belted a walk-off home run off Tampa Bay reliever Dan Wheeler a year ago Wednesday. "This home stand, we came out blazing, six in a row, and then we ran into a buzz-saw for a few days.
"But this is our home and you don't want anyone messing around with you in your own backyard. To be able to pick them up, it was a monster win for us."
The Yanks' road to the best record in baseball (87-53) hasn't been highlighted by nearly as many magical moments as their 2009 title run, which included 15 walk-off victories. Swisher's homer marked just the fourth time A.J. Burnett has smashed a cream pie in a teammate's face this season - although it might've been timelier than any of the last-gasp heroics in 2009.
"Was the whipped cream fresh? That was my question. We hadn't done it in a while," Joe Girardi said.
"What started off as a really good home stand, if we lose today, to me, it's not a good home stand. ... I thought it was a big swing."
The Yanks depart Thursday for two potential postseason Indianapolis Colts jersey
destinations - Texas and Tampa Bay - then Baltimore.
Girardi had said after the game that Posada might not be on Thursday's flight because he has experienced concussion symptoms after being struck by a foul tip behind the plate Tuesday night. But the team said Wednesday night that Posada's tests at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital came back negative and he's been "cleared for competitive play" and listed as day-to-day.
"Just look at the back of his baseball card to see what he's meant to this organization," Swisher said of Posada.
"But we take a lot of pride that when guys go down, we have guys that step up and step in at big positions."
One unforeseen example has been rookie Ivan Nova, whom Girardi thought pitched an "outstanding game" in his fourth major-league start with Andy Pettitte still on the disabled list entering Thursday's rehab playoff start for Double-A Trenton. Nova hurled six strong innings, but was trailing 2-1 after Baltimore catcher Matt Wieters hit a two-run homer on a 3-0 fastball in the fifth. "The way Super Nova pitched, you definitely wanted to get him the win," Swisher said.
The Yanks managed just Brett Gardner's early RBI double over eight innings against Baltimore starter Brad Bergesen and two relievers. But Alex Rodriguez opened the ninth with a single to right against closer Koji Uehara.
"Being swept at home anytime is unacceptable," A-Rod said. "We needed a shot in the arm. It seemed like we were sleepwalking the past couple of days."
It was left to Swisher to provide the final wakeup call. But Swisher, who was out earlier this week with a stiff knee, had doubled back in pain after dodging a high-and-tight pitch in the seventh.
"I looked like an idiot. I just fell down and couldn't stand up," Swisher said. "I know everybody's dealing with pain right now, myself included. ... I'm glad I stuck around."
Batting lefty, the switch-hitter drove Uehara's 2-0 fastball the Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
other way into the visitors' bullpen in left-center or his third career game-ending homer, triggering the first home-plate celebration at the Stadium since Swisher's ninth-inning single beat Tampa Bay on July 16.
"(Baltimore) came in and won the first two games at our home," Swisher said, "and we didn't like that."
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