Relief pitching and Robinson Cano were the stars of the 3–1 win

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Robinson Cano[/caption]

In winning a game that was delayed by rain against they Colorado Rockies, 3–1, Robinson Cano yet again proved that he is the offensive player that the team can least afford to lose. Cano’s 5th inning homer, which moved him past Paul O’Neil for 17th place on the Yankees’ all-time home run list with 186, helped the team win the series.

In the third inning, Cano hit a single up the middle, which turned into his 1,500th career hit. That hit came almost exactly eight years after his first hit as he picked up a single off of Hideo Nomo on May 4, of 2005.

However, upon reading the inscription of the ball, he realized it was not the ball that was his 1,500th hit. It was a lighthearted moment in the middle of the win because the Yankeed had played a prank on the star second baseman.

After a slow start, he seem like he will be in the MVP consideration by the end of the year. He has been critical to the team’s surprising 20–13 record and has easily been the best offensive player on a team that has been without Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira, Curtis Granderson, Alex Rodriguez, Kevin Youkilis, Eduardo Nunez and Francisco Cervelli for all or part of the season.

This game, along with many others this season, was highlighted by a bullpen that limited the opposition. After Sabathia allowed a run in four innings, but then didn’t com back after the long rain delay, five pitcher combine to pitch five shutout innings. It was highlighted by Adam Warren, who picked up his first win by pitching 1.2 innings after the delay, and Mariano Rivera, who threw a perfect ninth inning and picked up his 13th save in 13 chances this season.

The trip to Denver saw the Yankees play an unusual series as Austin Romine hit behind the pitcher, David Phelps, on Wednesday, and CC Sabathia only pitched four innings because of rain, combined with it being a very low scoring series, but a series win is always desirable. The Yankees actually won the series even though they only scored six runs.

Joe Girardi’s team is now in Kansas City where they will play a weekend series against the Royals. The Royals (18–13) are half a game behind the Detroit Tigers for first place in the AL Central. They lost their last series to the Orioles, but it looks like the Royals have turned the corner as a result of their improved pitching.