Alfonso Soriano Stepping Up Big For Yankees

Ever since Alfonso Soriano made a return to the New York Yankees, he has seemed to find his game again. Something has certainly clicked for Soriano during his second stint in pinstripes. He homered twice for the second straight night and drove in a career-high seven runs, giving him a staggering 13 RBIs in two games while powering the suddenly potent New York Yankees to an 11-3 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday. This coming after he set a career best with six RBIs during New York's 14-7 win Tuesday. He became the seventh player since 1920 with at least 13 RBIs over consecutive games and the first since Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa had 14 in August 2002. The record is 15 by Yankees second baseman Tony Lazzeri in May 1936.

Soriano has found his power stroke again the past few games, showing baseball fans that there is still a little left in the tank for Alfonso. After spending his early years in New York from 1999-2003, the 37-year-old Soriano was reacquired from the Cubs on July 26 to give an injury-depleted lineup a boost. He got off to a slow start upon returning but has certainly turned it on lately. This surge out of Soriano could not be coming at a better time for the Yankees. With all the steroid issues going on with Alex Rodriguez, the team, its players, and its fans need something to focus their attention on besides this three ring circus with steroids. Soriano is providing that in a big way for two reasons. First things first, its a coming out party for Soriano, as he has been quiet for most of this year. Soriano needed 144 at-bats to reach 13 RBIs this season with the Chicago Cubs on May 14. Back for another tour with the Yankees, it took him seven trips to the plate over nine innings the past two nights to match that number. So having him back in the lineup has resurrected his career.

The other major thing this has done is it has really helped out the Yanks in their push for the playoffs. Don't get me wrong I still think its a bit of a long shot here for the Yankees to even make it into the playoffs, but with the way Soriano has played the last few days, things don't look as bleak as they once did. With the win last night, it puts the Yankees record at 62-57, which has the Yanks in 4th place in the East, 8.5 games back of the Red Sox. What makes this so interesting is that the Yankees now have a chance to pull themselves past both Tampa Bay and Baltimore in the division. The Yanks are now within striking distance of both teams and might be able to pass them if the offense keeps going the way it has.

When it comes to the Wild Card, the Yankees are now in better striking distance of that, as they are now only 5 games back from the last wild card spot. They still have a chance to try and catch Tampa Bay and Oakland for those spots, but things really have to fall into place for the team. Pitching has got to settle down and be as dominant as it was during the middle stretch of the year. Right now pitching has looked a little off, but with the offense going the way it has the past few days, being powered by Soriano, the Yanks could be set to make things very interesting in not only the AL East, but the AL Wild Card race too.