Johnson started the bottom of the fourth with another double and moved to third on Kershaw’s sac bunt (no error this time!).  Furcal followed with a sac fly, scoring Johnson and Belliard followed with a solo homer to center, putting the Dodgers ahead 5-0.

After a scoreless fifth, the Yankees finally got on the board in the sixth.  Derek Jeter started the inning with a single to right.  Mark Teixeira grounded into a force out, with Jeter out at second and Teixeira safe at first.  Alex Rodriguez ten homered to left field, giving the Bombers their first runs of the game and making the score 5-2.  A single by Jamey Carroll in the eighth, followed by a RBI double by Furcal gave the Dodgers a little more breathing room as New York faced a 6-2 deficit heading into the ninth.

Despite the extra run taking away the save situation, Joe Torre called on his closer, Jonathan Broxton, to pitch the ninth.  Broxton, who has thrown a lot of pitches over the last five days struck out Teixeira to start the ninth, but quickly found himself battling.  Rodriguez connected with a fastball for a single and moved to second on defensive indifference.  Robinson Cano then doubled to right, scoring Rodriguez.  Jorge Posada put together a great at bat, making Broxton throw ten pitches before he singled to right, putting Cano on third and bringing the tying run to the plate.  Granderson followed suit, making the Dodgers’ closer throw eight pitches before walking to load the bases.

Chad Huffman, who put together a great game after Brett Gardner left early due to being hit by a pitch in the forearm, hit a huge RBI single, sending Cano and Posada home and putting the tying run on third.  Colin Curtis also put together a gutsy at bat, getting Broxton to throw ten pitches and fouling off six of them before grounding down the first baseline.  The Yankees caught a break as James Loney fielded the ball and decided to tag first before trying to gun out a speedy Granderson who slid into home just before the ball got there, tying everything up at 6-6.  Torre showed some respect to Jeter, intentionally walking him before Francisco Cervelli grounded out to end the inning.

Mariano Rivera came out in the bottom of the ninth to shut down the Dodgers, and he succeeded, but not without some fireworks.  After getting Ethier to ground out, Garret Anderson flew out to left.  Anderson had not liked one of the strikes the umpire called, thinking he should have walked and after flying out he had some words with the home plate umpire who tossed him.  Joe Torre then came out and had a lengthy argument with the umpire, trying to mess with Rivera’s momentum.  Apparently they know how to put on a good show out in Hollywood.  Rivera wasn’t fazed, however, and got Casey Blake to strike out swinging, sending the game into extras.

Teixeira started the tenth with a single to right and Rodriguez grounded into a force out.  Torre then called on former Orioles pitcher George Sherrill, who Cano was 0-11 against.  Cano took the second pitch Sherrill threw, a fastball, and parked it over the wall in left center for a big two-run homer and the Bombers’ first lead of the game.  Rivera came out in the bottom of the inning, gave up a single to Loney before striking out Russell Martin (who also argued with the umpire and found himself tossed).  Johnson struck out and Carroll grounded to the Captain to give the Yankees the dramatic 8-6 come from behind victory.

Bronx Cheers:
Andy Pettitte: Pettitte only lasted five innings, giving up six hits and five runs (four earned).  He walked three, struck out five and had two pretty big errors on sac bunts.  Pettitte wasn’t hitting his spots, pitching or fielding, it seemed.

Nick Swisher: Swish went 0-4 and stranded four runners.

Curtis Granderson: Grandy also went 0-4, but I give him big points for managing to get home and tie the game in the ninth on a grounder to first.

Curtain Calls:
Robinson Cano: Robbie went 2-5 with two runs scored and three RBIs.  His tenth inning homer won the game for the Yankees and his RBI double in the ninth helped start a big New York rally.

Mariano Rivera: Mo gave New York another solid two inning outing, giving up just one hit and striking out three.  He didn’t let the overdramatic Dodgers ruin his flow.  Joe Torre should have known, it takes more than that to get to Mariano.

Chad Huffman:  The rookie outfielder was called on when Gardner was injured, and he ended up having a huge night for the Yankees.  He went 2-3 with two big RBIs in the ninth.

Alex Rodriguez:  A-Rod went 2-5 with three runs scored and two RBIs.  His two-run homer in the sixth was crucial in keeping the Yankees in the game.  He has been a fairly consistent hitter for the Yankees this season, but he seems to have finally found his power stroke again.

In the On Deck Circle:
The Yankees are back in the Bronx tomorrow, making the west coast come to them as they take on the Seattle Mariners.  With all the rumors surrounding Cliff Lee, it should be interesting to watch him take the mound for Seattle tonight.  He has not allowed a walk in 37 innings, a Mariners record, but the Yankees lead the Majors in walks.  Lee is having a great year for the disappointing Mariners and as a free agent this fall, he could be auditioning for a job in the Bronx.  Phil Hughes will try to continue his strong 2010 after skipping a turn to keep his innings down.  He is trying to pick up his sixth straight win.  He is 5-0 with a 3.86 ERA since his lone loss to the New York Mets.  He has not started a game against Seattle since 2007.  First pitch will be Tuesday night at 7:05pm.