On a desperate night in the Bronx, the Mandalorian saves us

Every great Yankee has a monster career moment.  

Reggie's three-HR night in the series.

Jeter's flip toss to the plate, Coney's no-hitter, Thurman's blast into the bullpen, Mickey's 365-footer... 

Ruth's 60th, Roger's 61st, Judge's 62nd...

Not sure yet if Anthony Rizzo will someday be considered a Yankee great. If he makes the Hall of Fame, it might be with a Cubs hat. Still, make no mistake: Last night, Rizzo had his Matterhorn  moment, at least  in pinstripes.

Of course, you know by now that Rizzo's towering HR in the 8th rescued the Yanks from a soul-crushing - perhaps terminal - loss to a team that has dominated them. The Rays would head into today's game behind their ace - Shane McClanahan, 7-0 - looking to utterly destroy the confidence and swagger of a rival that was supposed to be competitive. We would be facing the very real possibility of being swept at home, last place in the AL East, perhaps for a while. 

Instead, the Yankees see a pinprick of light, and Tampa is reeling not just over last night's devilish loss, but the painful news that their No. 2 starter - Drew Rasmussen, who threw 7 shutout innings Thursday night  - is out with a barking elbow, the worst diagnosis a pitcher can hear. 

Make no mistake: The Yanks face a long hard slog. Last night's jubilation will end at 1:05 p.m. After Tampa, they go to Toronto - to face perhaps a less menacing rival, but one that despises us even more than the Rays do. 

If the Yankees win today and tomorrow, they could leapfrog both Boston and  Toronto by Monday. And it would all be the result of Rizzo's HR.  

Either way, years from now, long after 2023 is filed away and forgotten, we will remember Rizzo's HRs on his Mandalorian Bobble Head night, back in the days...

His great Yankee moment.