Posada's winning hit fitting for Yankees

It's the launch to their annual October getaway, and they know the drill by heart: Pop Champagne, scream, hug. The Yankees returned to Clinchville late Wednesday night.

And on the far side of the clubhouse, Jorge Posada, his eyes red from the raining alcohol, wore a grin so wide that you'd never know where his travels since last October have taken him.

How storybook -- how cliched, even -- that the venerable Yankee delivered the eighth-inning, game-winning, pinch-hit, two-run single that secured his club's residence in the American League East penthouse. By defeating the Rays, 4-2, and completing a doubleheader sweep (while Boston lost again to Baltimore), the Yankees clinched their 12th division title and 15th playoff berth in 16 seasons.

"I wouldn't say it was an all-time moment," a drenched Posada said. "But it's a pretty big moment for me, yes."

Following the Yankees' 4-2 win in Game 1, Robinson Cano -- who delivered the eighth-inning, game-winning, two-run double in that contest -- declared, "I love this year," and if you've followed these 2011 Yankees, you knew what he meant.

He meant that this club experienced about as awful a winter as can a team that spends more than $200 million per season. They lost Cliff Lee to Philadelphia and Andy Pettitte to retirement and saw the Red Sox acquire Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez, events that prompted Yankees general manager Brian Cashman to declare his rivals as the preseason favorites.

But the Yankees exceeded expectations because they received unexpected contributions from so many people, from Bartolo Colon to Freddy Garcia to Ivan Nova to Eric Chavez to Russell Martin to Cory Wade.

"We've got a good team," Cashman said. "We definitely had some surprises. We needed to have some surprises. There were some areas that were extremely questionable but then solvable, and they did, on their own. So we're grateful for that."

And because they overcame the standard barrage of injuries (Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes, Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez) and, in the case of Posada, underperformance and drama that temporarily threatened to deflate the team.

Posada's decision to remove himself from the lineup May 14 against Boston, brought back the Steinbrenner-ian Bronx Zoo for a couple of days. Posada backed down and even picked up his performance for a while, yet Joe Girardi benched him in early August with few protests.

Which brought us to late Wednesday night: Bases loaded, two outs, score tied at 2, and when Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon lifted lefty Cesar Ramos for righty Brandon Gomes to go after rookie Jesus Montero, Girardi called upon his old teammate.

Posada drilled an 0-and-1 fastball for a two-run single to rightfield, and when Rafael Soriano struck out Matt Joyce, the Yankees had scaled another mountain. With Posada leading the last leg of the expedition.

"We have been able to survive and stay in there," Posada said. "A lot of people would write us off. In here, we never gave up and we never second-guessed ourselves."

" . . . We went through some difficult struggles at times, but I believe in Jorgie," Girardi said.

The greater belief test comes when the Yankees huddle to determine their postseason roster. Given how imposing Montero has looked and how valuable Chris Dickerson has made himself, Posada very well might not fit, barring injuries.

If this turns out to be Posada's last great Yankees moment, however? It couldn't have come at a more fitting time or place.