Yankees Closing In on Red Sox in East

Don't look now, but the Yankees are closing in on the Red Sox.

After Tuesdays thrilling 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox that was punctuated by Neil Walker's walk-off homer, the Yankees find  themselves at 84-48, and 6.5 games out of first place.

Taking advantage of an easy August schedule has really helped the Yankees forget their sweep at the hands of the Red Sox earlier in the month. In their last 11 games, the Yankees are 9-2, even as the team struggles to keep guys healthy.

The Yankees recent surge has been buoyed by the fact the Red Sox are not playing well right now. The Red Sox had to erase a 6-4 deficit and 7-all tie against the Marlins just to win 8-7 in the bottom of the ninth on Tuesday. Before that Boston was swept by Tampa Bay over the weekend. Boston is 3-6 in its last night and 5-7 over its previous 12 games. They have not enjoyed a long winning streak since August 10 to 14, when they swept the Orioles and beat the Phillies.

On August 14, the Sox were 86-35, well on their way to a 110 win season. They may still get there but it will not be easy.

The Yankees are getting Aaron Judge back sooner than expected. Didi Gregorious and Gary Sanchez are not too far behind. The additions of Lance Lynn and JA Happ have settled a once rocky rotation. Happ has been unbelievable since joining the Bombers. He is 5-0 with a 2.37 ERA. Talk about being motivated to play for a winner.

When the Red Sox swept the Yankees four weeks ago, they did hoping that New York would slink away into the corner. It has not happened. The Yankees have done everything in their power to pull themselves back into the race. Even if the Yankees do not catch the Red Sox, they have every intention to make Boston sweat it out over the final month of the season.

Let the real games begin.