A little over a month before the Yankees would face the Athletics in the first round of the playoffs, they were out in Oakland for a four-game series against the eventual AL West champions. New York had swept a three-game set in the Bronx earlier in August, but Joe Torre’s club suffered a beatdown in the Coliseum opener. After an ugly defeat like that, the Yanks needed an offensive step up and they received that early in the second game.

August 26: Yankees 10, Athletics 6 (box score)

Record: 71-55 (1st in AL East, 3.0 games ahead)

Mark Mulder was among the A’s intimidating “Big Three” at the beginning of the century alongside Tim Hudson and Barry Zito, but this would not be the lefty’s night. In the top of the first, the Bombers saw the offense come to life. Derek Jeter and Luis Sojo sm

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