A Tex Message

Teixeira watches the 300th home run of his
career sail off the left field wall.

The New York Yankees closed out June, a month that saw them go 18-8, with another piece of history. All-Star first basemen Mark Teixeira launched his major league-leading 25th home run of the season Thursday, it was also the 300th of his career. 

Batting from the right-side, Teixeira hammered a 2-1 offering from Milwaukee Brewers' left-hander Randy Wolf into the left field seats, giving him a milestone he won't soon forget, as it was a no-doubter.

It was only the eighth time Teixeira had homered batting right-handed this season compared to his seventeen from the left-side.

Teixeira becomes the second player this season to reach the 300 home run plateau as Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz did so earlier this year in an Interleague game against the Chicago Cubs. With this home run, Teixiera becomes the first switch-hitter to hit 300 home runs in his first nine seasons in the big leagues. Another Yankee great Mickey Mantle came close, putting 280 balls in the seats his first nine years in pinstripes.

The two-time All-Star has hit 30 home runs or more in seven straight seasons with him well on his way to making it eight straight, needing only five more the rest of the way. His 25 home runs before the All-Star tie his career-high for the most before the Mid-Summer Classic.

Teixeira's home run came in the third inning, giving New York a 3-0 lead, eventually finishing a sweep of the first place Brewers for their fifth straight victory behind the brilliance of ace left-hander C.C. Sabathia.

Not to take away from Teixeira's historic day, the real story was on the mound with Sabathia facing his former team. Sabathia tied a career-high fanning 13 Brewers over 72/3 innings for his major league-leading 11th victory of the season. The win also tied him with Hall of Famer Bert Blyleven for the most wins before their 31st birthday with 168.

Sabathia had said he was nervous to face his former club, after leading them to a postseason berth in 2008. After being acquired by the Brewers in July of that season, the 290 pound left-hander went 11-2 in his 17 starts for Miwaukee with a 1.65 ERA. His final three starts came on three days rest after volunteering to do so.

Sabathia has been worth every penny for the
Yankees when they signed him prior to the
2009 season.

As for the team, New York is now 23-4 in day games this season and winners of 15 of their last 19 games. Thanks in large part to Teixeira and Sabathia, the Yankees sit atop the American League East with a 2.5 game lead over the Red Sox and the American League's best record.

Both seem to be locks for this years All-Star game in Arizona and will need to continue their dominance in the second half for New York to fin off the talented Red Sox for yet another division crown.