Breathless

Javier was in his Walton Avenue apartment when the final out settled into Bobby Abreu’s glove. The clock flashed 12:29 a.m. in the Bronx – 11: 29 p.m. in Minneapolis – when he turned to his friend Ron from across the hall and asked:

“How long can you hold your breath?”

“I’m not sure,” Ron answered. “How long was that game?”

“Too long,” Javier said with a smile, “but at least we won it.”

Javier checked the newspaper this morning for the official word on the 9-6, 12 inning victory.

“Four hours and 22 minutes,” he said. “That’s how long we can hold our breath because that’s what it took the Yankees to win a game they had to have.”

Javier took a deep breath and held it for a moment.

“Just warming up,” he said. “We need another win today.”