As they progressed through the final month of the season, the 2000 Yankees had entered the jockey-for-position phase of the schedule. With a comfortable six-game lead in the AL East, as well as a four-game advantage on Cleveland for the second seed in the American League and home-field in the ALDS, the Yankees’ primary concerns were to hold things together, maintain a solid playoff position, and work out the kinks of their potential postseason roster.

They would dominate the Royals to inch closer to clinching a playoff spot, but at the cost of an arm, the second time in as many nights that the Yankees saw a veteran player go down.

September 5: Yankees 10, Royals 5 (box score)

Record: 78-57 (6 GA in AL East)

The Yankees sent David Cone to the mound, with the right-hander seemingly round

See Full Page