If They Had Done This a Month or Two Ago...

Well, well, well: The Yankees took 3 out of 4 in Detroit (and were 1 run away from a sweep), and took 3 straight in Houston. And gave good signs for the future.

The Friday night win over the Astros, featuring the home-run-hitting debut of Jasson Domínguez, was followed on Saturday by a shaky start by Luis Severino, but Jhony Brito pitched 3 2/3rds innings of scoreless relief to qualify as the winning pitcher.

In the 2nd inning, the Ozzies struck: Oswald Peraza singled Giancarlo Stanton home to keep the bases loaded, and Oswaldo Cabrera drew a walk to force Anthony Volpe home. Aaron Judge hit a home run in the 3rd inning. The Yankees tacked on 2 more runs in the 5th, and that was enough: Yankees 5, Astros 4.

Last night was the ESPN Sunday night game. Aaron Boone decided to go with an "opener game," starting Michael King. Except he went 5 innings, allowing just 1 run, 5 hits, and no walks. Tommy Kahnle, Jonathan Loáisiga and Clay Holmes combined for 4 innings, no runs, 2 hits, no walks. So that's how you beat the Cheat-stros: Don't walk anybody, all game long.

It was 1-0 Astros with 1 out in the top of the 6th, when Cabrera singled, and DJ LeMahieu doubled him home. Judge struck out, but Domínguez hit one out, making him only the 4th Yankee ever to hit 2 home runs in his 1st 3 major league games. There were 3 more runs in the 9th, including a home run by Gleyber Torres. Yankees 6, Astros 1. It was the Yankees' 1st sweep of the Astros since 2013, and their 1st in Houston since 2002.

An optimist would say that this is the highlight of the season, and that it portends well for the rest of the way and for next season.

A pessimist would say it's too little, too late, and, as far next season, Brian Cashman will find a way to futz it up.

A realist would say he doesn't know, and is tired of hearing, let alone making, predictions about this team.

So, here we are, Labor Day, and not only is there no holiday doubleheader as in days of yore, but neither the Yankees nor the Mets are even scheduled for today. Tomorrow, the Yankees start a homestand, 3 with Detroit, then 3 with Milwaukee.

They are 68-69, 8 1/2 out of the last American League Playoff berth. Their "Tragic Number" to be eliminated is 18.

If they had brought up Domínguez and the other kinds a month or two ago...