Extra Special

Wins make everyone smile. Tough, gritty, grinding wins make the smiles a little bigger.

The Yankees had to survive rain delays and they had to scrape runs off a tough pitcher and they had to get big outs late in the game. The result was a 3-2 win, but it seemed like more.

“It felt like an extra-inning win,” said Javier, who lives on Walton Avenue in the Bronx. “It was like one of those games where you come close to winning and then you come close to losing and then you finally win it.”

Javier smiled over his morning coffee and continued.

“Every win is special,” he said, “but that one felt a little extra special.”