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The Good

The Yankees held off the Rays, still losing the series, but regaining first place. We all know that's what matters. We're fighting a war of attrition, willing to sacrifice battles for a greater end. We're strategical like that.

The Bad

Kuroda gave up four earned runs in only six innings of work. Should he be sent down to work out his mechanics in Triple-A? Probably. Will he be sent down? Yes.

The Ugly

Steve Pearce was pulled in the ninth inning for pinch hitter Eric Chavez.

"I had to leave the game early," explained Pearce, "because someone fraudulently stood in for my at-bat as Steve Pearce. This is why we need strict voter ID laws, otherwise every old man with a last name like Chavez can just walk up to the plate, claim to be Steve Pearce, and vote for Barack Obama."

Told that was not at all what happened, and that Chavez simply pinch hit for him under established Major League rules, Steve was unconvinced.

"It doesn't matter if people follow the rules and that the scenario I just described has never happened in this state. We need these laws to protect the Steve Pearces of the world. Period."

Martin Continues to Contribute

To the children, that is. Another bomb, another $2.

Raul Ibanez 15hr = $30
Nick Swisher 20hr = $40
Andruw Jones 13hr = $26
Derek Jeter 14hr = $28
Curtis Granderson 34hr = $68
Alex Rodriguez 15hr = $30
Robinson Cano 29hr = $58
Mark Teixeira 23hr = $46
Eric Chavez 13hr = $26
Russell Martin 15hr = $30
Jayson Nix 5hr = $10
Dewayne Wise 3hr = $6
Chris Stewart 1hr = $2
Ichiro Suzuki 3hr = $6
Casey McGehee 1hr = $2

Total 204 hr = $408