You know what the difference between a Yankee and a Damn Yankee is? The Yankee came South but the Damn Yankee stayed.

You know how many mega bullpens it takes to keep the Braves in check? More than one, apparently.

What is the difference between a Yankee fan and a Red Sox fan? At the urinal line, the Yankee fan thinks he is doing you a favor for peeing on you.

What is the difference between a Yankee fan and a federal judge. Not much, they both think they are God.

Yes I remember Jim Croce’s words well: You don’t tug on Superman’s cape. You don’t spit into the wind. You don’t tug the mask off that old Lone Ranger and you don’t mess around with Jim (Slim on the last chorus, if you didn’t know). However, I know that I cannot be here today to bury the Yankees, but just as Suleiman Raisuli stood like the lion to curse the wind, I stand and curse the Return of the Evil Empire.

Oh, baseball. Yeah. Anibal Sanchez was effective. he met the minimal quality start of 6 innings and 3 runs. He gave up a pop up homerun to right to Aaron Judge in the first (more on that later!!!!!). Jonathan Loaisiga (sometimes referred to as Lasagne on FanGraphs) was pretty good early, but gave up a solo shot to Johan Camargo in the 3rd to tie it.

Bottom of 3 and 2 wild pitches from the Strike Whisperer let Didi Gregorius turn a double into a run. But top of 4, back to back to back doubles from Nick Markakis, Curt Suzuki, and Ronald Acuna, Jr. got two in for a 3 to 2 lead.

Bottom of 5, with one out, Gleyber Torres singled, Brett Gardner walked, and Aaron Judge walked. Oh no! bases loaded one out in a park designed for right field popouts to turn into home runs. Gregorius flied out deep enough to score Torres, so we were tied. Then noted BIG MAN Giancarlo Stanton came up and he popped out close enough in to be an infield fly unless the Cardinals are fielding.

This was the night when the beleaguered bullpen beleaguered the Yankees. Innings 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 with no runs scoring. Occasionally it was like the Weebles; they wobbled but they didn’t fall down. Sam Freeman walked 2, then got a lineout and a double play. He likes toying with people. Dan Winkler let 2 get on, but struck out 2. Jesse Biddle faced the minimum in the 9th, with one single getting erased on a double play. Biddle in the 10th wobbled and but for the fortuitous bounce of Aaron Hicks pop up to the right field corner having bounced out of play, the Yankees would have walked off. But Biddle then struck out 2.

Inning 11 began even more of Skip’s beloved “free baseball.” Neck got on by error, Zuk hit into a fielder’s choice and Danny Santana came in to run for him, when the man, the legend, the master of the universe, Ronald Acuna, Jr. stepped to the plate. And he popped up to right field, but Aaron Judge may have barely touched it trying to pull it back, but lo, the legend grows. 5 to 3 Braves.

A. J. Minter came in to make the save and did so. He is rounding into the form we hoped for over the past few years. IFFB, K, BB, K and off we go.

Two more like this and maybe the Braves will wake up the national sports media.