Going into last night’s start at Yankee Stadium, Roy Halladay had allowed just three home runs all season. In the third inning last night, he allowed two in a span of four batters, and he’d give up another later in the game. When you’re on a roll like the Yankees are on right now — last night’s 8–3 win makes nine straight at home, and seven out of eight overall — it doesn’t seem to matter whether you’re facing some random Oriole or a Cy Young candidate that’s had your number for years.
A two-run triple by Brett Gardner in the second preceded the third-inning home runs by Curtis Granderson and Nick Swisher — Mark Teixeira would add another off Halladay two innings later — and those runs would be enough for CC Sabathia, who went seven innings and pitched out of trouble on a couple of occasions to hold the Phillies to three runs.
The Rays won last night, which means the Yankees remain tied for the best record in the division (and the league, and all of baseball). But if they can do that to Roy Halladay, and if they keep up their current pace, they’ll be atop the standings by themselves soon enough.