Eight...Nine, but Phils Snap Yanks Win Streak Before 10

The Yanks used the long ball to roll to eight and nine straight wins, but Friday night, the defending champion Philadelphia Phillies came to town and gave the Bombers a test of their own medicine.

Seven more home runs were hit at baseball's newest launching pad – Yankee Stadium – when the top home run-hitting teams in each league faced off. Four were hit by the Phils, who rolled to a 7-3 victory in the first interleague game at new Yankee Stadium and ended New York's nine-game winning streak.

There have been 82 homers at Yankee Stadium, a record for the first 21 games at a major league park, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Hey, the Yankees couldn’t keep winning. If they were to lose, the Phillies are as formidable an opponent as any. Ten straight would have been nice, but the Yankees continue to hit and they did get some positive news Friday on the Chien-Ming Wang front. Activated before the game after nearly a month on the disabled list, Wang made his third career relief appearance and gave up a long homer deep over the Yankees bullpen to Raul Ibanez. He threw 51 pitches, allowing two runs and six hits in three innings while lowering his ERA from a ridiculous 34.50 to 25.00.

AJ Burnett struggled once again for New York. He’s been a great addition to the clubhouse, but from the looks of things his velocity is down. His heater has lost some zip.

Meanwhile, Wang looks like he’s regained some of his velocity, touching 94 on the gun. However, his command wasn’t there – something that will likely come with more innings in the majors. Wang could get a start next week in place of the injured Chamberlain. As for Burnett, he made need some side sessions to work on things. He is winless in his last seven starts.

Chamberlain was knocked out in the first inning Thursday night, bruising his right knee on a liner off the bat of Adam Jones. Thankfully, the Yankee lineup came through once again and the bullpen picked it up in Chamberlain’s absence. Robinson Cano drove in three runs, Alfredo Aceves led a solid effort by a depleted bullpen and the surging Yankees shrugged off Chamberlain's injury in a 7-4 victory over the Baltimore Orioles Thursday night. The victory completed New York’s three-game sweep of the Orioles.

The home run played a major role in New York’s long win streak. Nick Swisher hit the first of three consecutive homers that sent Phil Hughes and the Yankees to their eighth straight win Wednesday night. In the 11-4 victory, Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera also hit solo shots to right field in the second inning against starter Jeremy Guthrie – all with two strikes.

Unlike the woeful Orioles, the Phillies can pitch a little bit. That was the difference Friday night in ending the Yankees win streak.