No live bloggin' this fine evening, but I'll be popping in a few times during the game with some exclamations and/or bitching.

Here's what's going on before the game...

Joba's father and fan favorite Harlan is currently in the hospital and Joba has returned to Nebraska to be with him. Everyone is concerned and hoping for the best for Daddy Chamberlain. Joba had this to say about the situation:

As many of you know, my family is dealing with a serious, personal medical condition involving my father Harlan. He is currently in critical but stable condition. We cannot express how much we appreciate the enormous amount of love and compassion that has been shown to my family by so many.

I also want to thank my teammates and my manager for giving me so much support when I have needed it most. Their actions are the reason I was able to reach my father’s side as quickly as I did. I ask that you please afford my family the privacy that it needs to deal with my father’s condition appropriately. In turn, I will provide updates through the Yankees as they become available to me.

Let's all send lots of love and good vibes the Chamberlains' way!

In lineup news, Jeter is back in the game tonight after nearly a week off. Cano, however, is out of the lineup, presumably due to his incredibly crappy start. Hopefully a mental and physical breather day will do the trick. Alberto Gonzalez, who did a great job filling in for Jeter last week, is going to spend the day at Cano's post.

Full Lineup:
Damon LF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Ensberg 1B
Cabrera CF
Moeller C
Gonzalez 2B

Interesting lineup. Quite the B-Squad, but that's not necessarily a bad thing considering the relatively poor performances of so many of the usual starters. No Posada tonight - not quite ready to catch again and that DH spot has to be rotated.

Game on in about 40 minutes!

7:13pm EDT: SEEEEYA x 2! Damon leads off with a solo shot and then A-Rod follows suit a couple batters later with a solo shot of his own. Could it be? Could the bats be awakening at long last?

Keep 'em quiet, I-Ken!

7:21pm EDT: What is this, batting practice? Morgan Ensberg just hit the third solo shot of the game off Sonnanstine. 3-0 Yanks.

I-Ken looked great in the first inning, BTW.

8:00pm EDT: Damon again! Sonny serves up a bases-loaded dub to Damon. Score goes up to 5-1 Yanks and there are still two guys on base.

They need a big win! Without our Spirit Coordinator, they need to make their own morale-boosters.

8:47pm EDT: We're through five now, and I-Ken has done a great job. Just over 70 pitches, 5 hits, 2 ER, 3 K's and a walk.

And the B-Squad Bombers are cheering me up!

GOOOOOOOOO MOELLER!

9:18pm EDT: Uh oh... Bartlett just hit one back to the mound and hit I-Ken, who left the game immediately. He wasn't crying or bleeding, at least... but a hit pitcher is never good (see Hughes, Phil, and Rasner, Darrell.)

Billy Traber in.

9:32pm EDT: You've got to be kidding me, dudes! Rays came into the seventh and hit three homers - 1 off Traber and then back to back jacks off Bruney. The score is now tied 7-7 with two out in the bottom of the seventh.

How bout a couple back to back jacks of your own, B-Squad B's?

9:40pm EDT: SEEEYA! A pinch hit home run by Robby Cano puts the Yanks up 8-7 here in the top of the eighth. Great time to bust yourself out of that slump!

10:10pm EDT: Ball game over, Yankees win 8-7! Congrats and thank you to A-Rod (4-5) and Cano (tie-breaking homer in the 8th) for making this delightful win possible.

Wrap-up on the way!