Yeah Tex, that was strike 3. (Cary Edmondson-US PRESSWIRE)

TURNING POINT:  The only blemish of the night for Parker came when the Yankees were able to scratch out a run with a leadoff Alex Rodriguez single, a couple groundouts to move him to 3rd, and an RBI single up the middle from Raul Ibanez.  The A’s were down and had to try to scratch out a run of their own, and they didn’t waste any time.  A couple fly outs by Jemile Weeks and Josh Reddick brought the man of the hour on the offensive side Yoenis Cespedes to the plate.  Cespedes is fast becoming one of the must see hitters in the entire league, and he put on a show tonight, driving a 2-1 fastball from Hughes well into the left field bleachers.  Just like that the game was tied and we were back even with half the game left to play.  But it felt like the A’s had the momentum with Parker just beginning to find his groove.

ON THE HILL:  Jarrod Parker needed to avoid putting Yankees hitters on base with the walks that have plagued him all season, he did just that.  The one walk he did issue was the last Yankee to reach base against him tonight.  Overall Parker pitched 8 innings, allowing 5 hits and 1 walk with 5 strikeouts.  Sean Doolittle came on to close out the game and while he did allow a leadoff seeing eye single to Alex Rodriguez, he struck out Robinson Cano, Mark Teixeira on a near strike ‘em out-throw ‘em out double play to end the game, and finally Andruw Jones on a high fastball for the final out.  This was Doolittle’s first career save, and his dominance at the major league level continues.

AT THE PLATE:  The A’s really didn’t have much going offensively tonight as they only mustered 4 hits against the Phil Hughes, but two of them counted more than all the others and it was just enough.  Yoenis Cespedes, Brandon Inge, Coco Crisp, and Chris Carter were the only ones to find the hit column, and Cespedes and Derek Norris also drew walks.

FINAL THOUGHTS:  The A’s are in great position now not only for this series but in the standings.  With a 50-44 record they are now tied with the Chicago White Sox and the Baltimore Orioles for the 2nd wild card spot, the Detroit Tigers beat the White Sox today to take a 1/2 game lead in the AL Central.  But perhaps more importantly with the Texas Rangers defeating the Los Angeles Angels tonight, the A’s are just 1/2 game behind the Angels in the AL West for 2nd place.  They remain 6.5 games behind the Rangers, but passing the Angels would be huge for this team’s confidence going forward.  I never would have expected to say this, but the A’s have a chance to sweep the 4 game series tomorrow afternoon as Bartolo Colon (6-8, 3.88 ERA) takes on Bay Area guy and Vallejo native CC Sabathia (10-3, 3.27 ERA).  The A’s have had a fair amount of success against Sabathia over the years, so they know they can hit him, but Sabathia is still one of the most dominant pitchers in the game when he’s on so the A’s will need to be at their best to beat him.  The A’s have done a great job lately of not letting up when they have an advantage, and now is not the time to stop, it has to be full speed ahead to sweep the Yankees right out of Oakland!

July 20, 2012; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics first baseman Brandon Moss (37) hits the game winning RBI against the New York Yankees during the ninth inning at O.co Coliseum. The Oakland Athletics defeated the New York Yankees 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-US PRESSWIRE

TURNING POINT:  The Yankees had to be thrilled to see Tommy Milone exit the game tonight, and Russell Martin acted on that happiness by homering against Jerry Blevins in the 8th inning.  With the game much tighter now, the A’s needed to score again to give Ryan Cook a cushion in the 9th.  After Eric Sogard (Up from Sacramento after Cliff Pennington was placed on the 15 day DL) tripled the desperately struggling Kurt Suzuki came to the plate needing to make decent contact to get that insurance run in.  Suzuki grounded to a drawn in Derek Jeter who got threw home and got Sogard in a run-down, Suzuki was able to make it to 2nd base but Sogard was retired.  Coco Crisp drew a walk, but Jemile Weeks was unable to come through with a base hit with the insurance run at 2nd base.  So onto the 9th we went, and we all know how that turned out.

ON THE HILL:  It was all about Tommy Milone tonight, his stellar numbers at home are no secret to A’s fans, but his fearlessness against the New York Yankees tonight was really eye opening.  Milone struck out 10 Yankees in his 7 shutout innings, he gave up 5 hits but didn’t walk anyone.  Jerry Blevins allowed the home run to Russell Martin and hit Mark Teixeira with a pitch in his 0.2 innings of work.  Evan Scribner threw 1 pitch to Alex Rodriguez and got him to fly out to end the 8th.  Ryan Cook allowed a home run for the second straight night, this time to Robinson Cano, that was Cook’s only blemish tonight.  It should also be noted that the AL’s best pitching staff held the Yankees to less than 3 runs for the first time in 43 games, this is incredible stuff.

AT THE PLATE:  Brandon Moss is the star tonight for walking the A’s off in the 9th, but Yoenis Cespedes is nuclear hot right now.  Cespedes was 4-5 tonight with a run scored, his AVG now sits at .304 for the season.  It’s becoming clear that Cespedes’ talents don’t stop at hitting tape measure home runs, this guy can flat out rake.  Brandon Moss was 2-5 tonight with a run and an RBI.  Josh Reddick did his best to help add some insurance, going 3-5 tonight but didn’t touch the plate or drive any runs in.  Biggest shocker of the night, 2 hits came from the 7-8-9 spots in the order!  Brandon Inge drove in the second run of the game with a double, and Eric Sogard tripled in the 8th inning.  I feel real bad for Kurt Suzuki, I like the guy, but he’s just completely flabbergasted at the dish.  Perhaps a case of “elbow tendinitis” might be to blame?

FINAL THOUGHTS:  The A’s are on a roll like we haven’t seen in many years, and it’s even more exciting because the stakes are high now.  The A’s managed to keep pace with the Detroit Tigers and stay just 1/2 game behind them for the 2nd wildcard.  They remain 1 1/2 games behind the Los Angeles Angels who beat the Texas Rangers tonight, they are now just 6.5 games behind the Texas Rangers.  I still don’t expect anyone to pass the Rangers, but the simple fact that they’re this close to one of the best teams in baseball is pretty amazing.  The A’s have guaranteed themselves at least a split in this 4 game series, but now is the time to go for the jugular.  The A’s can make a real statement by taking 3 of 4 from the Bombers, or even sweeping the series.  Jarrod Parker (6-4, 3.16 ERA) tries to carry the torch for another night against the once highly regarded prospect Phil Hughes (9-7, 4.22 ERA) tomorrow night.  Parker needs to pound the strike zone like AJ Griffin and Tommy Milone did before him, Parker has the ability to absolutely dominate any lineup provided he stays out of his own way.  The excitement continues tomorrow at O.co, I’ll be in attendance and hope to see many fellow A’s fans rocking the Coliseum to its core.  And for your viewing pleasure… the mauling of Brandon Moss.  Let’s Go Oakland!

July 20, 2012; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics first baseman Brandon Moss (37) celebrates with pinch hitter Jonny Gomes (31) after Moss batted in the game winning run during the ninth inning at O.co Coliseum. The Oakland Athletics defeated the New York Yankees 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-US PRESSWIRE

July 20, 2012; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics first baseman Brandon Moss (37) celebrates with pinch hitter Jonny Gomes (31) after Moss batted in the game winning run during the ninth inning at O.co Coliseum. The Oakland Athletics defeated the New York Yankees 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-US PRESSWIRE

July 20, 2012; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics first baseman Brandon Moss (37) celebrates with pinch hitter Jonny Gomes (31) after Moss batted in the game winning run during the ninth inning at O.co Coliseum. The Oakland Athletics defeated the New York Yankees 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-US PRESSWIRE

July 20, 2012; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics dog pile on top of Oakland Athletics first baseman Brandon Moss (37) after batting in the game winning run against the New York Yankees during the ninth inning at O.co Coliseum. The Oakland Athletics defeated the New York Yankees 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-US PRESSWIRE

July 20, 2012; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics pinch hitter Jonny Gomes (31), third baseman Brandon Inge (7) and first baseman Brandon Moss (37) celebrate after Moss batted in the game winning run against the New York Yankees during the ninth inning at O.co Coliseum. The Oakland Athletics defeated the New York Yankees 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-US PRESSWIREJuly 20, 2012; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics right fielder Josh Reddick (16) dumps a gatorade bucket on first baseman Brandon Moss (37) after Moss batted in the game winning run against the New York Yankees during the ninth inning at O.co Coliseum. The Oakland Athletics defeated the New York Yankees 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-US PRESSWIRE

July 20, 2012; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics right fielder Josh Reddick (16) dumps a gatorade bucket on first baseman Brandon Moss (37) after Moss batted in the game winning run against the New York Yankees during the ninth inning at O.co Coliseum. The Oakland Athletics defeated the New York Yankees 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-US PRESSWIRE

July 19, 2012; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics starting pitcher A.J. Griffin (64) pitches the ball against the New York Yankees during the second inning at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-US PRESSWIRE

TURNING POINT:  The top of the 1st inning was the moment it was made clear to everyone that this game wasn’t going to play out in the same fashion all the other games has.  Derek Jeter singled to lead off the game in classic opposite field Derek Jeter style, and surely every A’s fan held their breath, feeling the dread of what was expected.  After Curtis Granderson flied out, Alex Rodriguez delivered a single of his own.  The Yankees had 2 on and 1 out against the young right hander AJ Griffin, making just his 5th MLB start.  Then a bizarre play took place when Robinson Cano lined a ball at Yoenis Cespedes that appeared to be caught but was dropped shortly thereafter.  Cespedes seemed to think he dropped the ball while transferring to his throwing hand, and everyone else did too.  Derek Jeter and A-Rod froze at their bases, and Cespedes realized what call had been made and heaved the ball towards 3rd base.  The ball sailed well over Brandon Inge’s head but thankfully Griffin was backing up the throw, he ran to the base and forced out Jeter.  Such a strange play like that usually goes against the A’s, but this time it worked in their favor.  Mark Teixeira was retired to end the inning and the threat.  That changed everything in 1 half of an inning.

ON THE MOUND:  AJ Griffin settled in nicely after his rather interesting 1st frame, retiring 11 Yankees in a row after Raul Ibanez singled with 1 out in the 2nd.  The Yankees got a couple runs on the board  in the 6th inning against Griffin, but the rookie buckled down and limited the damage.  Usually Mark Teixeira’s sac fly with the bases loaded would’ve been a game tying grand slam, tonight it wasn’t.  Griffin pitched 6 innings, allowed 7 hits and walked nobody while striking out 4 to earn his 2nd big league victory.  Sean Doolittle and Grant Balfour each pitched routine 1-2-3 innings in the 7th and 8th innings.  Ryan Cook came on for the save tonight, he only surrendered 1 hit but it came in the form of a Nick Swisher home run, the first Cook has given up in the Major Leagues, but he gathered himself quickly to lock down the first A’s win at home against the Yankees since the Reagan administration.

AT THE PLATE:  Yoenis Cespedes continued to swing a hot bat, going 2-3 with a walk and the big 2 run homer.  It’s no coincidence that his hot hitting has come just as the A’s have really started winning.  Seth Smith struggled for the most part tonight, but did have the one 2 run single that ended up giving the A’s just enough to hold onto the win tonight, Smith was 1-4 with 3 K’s.  Coco Crisp went 3-4 with a run scored, his AVG is now up to .242, a much more respectable number than he had been posting before.  Jemile Weeks was 2-4 with 2 runs scored and a stolen base.  And then there’s the bottom third of the order, I know it’s supposed to be where all your team’s weakest hitters are placed, but this is ridiculous.  The 7-8-9 hitters were 0-11 with 5 K’s tonight (Derek Norris, Brandon Inge, and Cliff Pennington I’m looking in your direction).  Norris is lost at the plate right now, one might wonder if his time in Oakland for the immediate future is coming to an end if his bat continues to be in a coma.

FINAL THOUGHTS:  The A’s now find themselves 4 games over the .500 mark at 48-44, they haven’t been this far above .500 since May 2010.  It was important for them to get this streak the Yankees had over them in Oakland out of the way right off the bat, now they can play looser and more relaxed through the remaining 3 games.  AJ Griffin proved himself yet again on a big stage against the mightiest of the mighty teams in baseball.  It would’ve been nice if Ryan Cook had been able to pitch a scoreless 9th to end the Yankees streak of 43 straight games scoring 3 or more runs, but beggars can’t be choosers.  Billy Beane will probably lose sleep tonight though about the ineptitude of the bottom third of the order/left side of the infield, something has to be done if the A’s are serious about improving the team.  The fact of the matter is this, there isn’t a definite solution on the way to Oakland for both of these positions, Grant Green will probably take one of those positions soon enough if this continues, but Beane may have to look outside the organization to help the team win.  But in the here an now, Tommy Milone (9-6, 3.54 ERA) takes the hill against the Bombers tomorrow night and he’ll be opposed by the young right hander Ivan Nova (10-4, 4.18 ERA).  Milone needs to continue his exceptional pitching at home because runs may be at a premium against a tough opponent in Nova.  The A’s can take this series by the horns with a win tomorrow, I hope they show the Yankees and the world that this is a team to be reckoned with.