In what has been a resurgent 2015, AL All-Star Mark Teixeira blasted two solo shots and Stephen Drew added a home run in the eighth in Wednesday’s 5-4 victory over the Oakland Athletics. Heading into the evening tilt, the New York Yankees were tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers for third on the home runs list with 107, and the Bronx Bombers continue to live and die by the long ball.

Teixeira now has 22 home runs, tied with Mike Trout for third-most in the AL. Alex Rodriguez (16), Brian McCann (13), Drew (12) and Chris Young (10) are also in double figures and, by season’s end, Jacoby Ellsbury, Brett Gardner, Carlos Beltran and Chase Headley will as well.

The return of Andrew Miller has allowed Joe Girardi to pencil in the southpaw in the ninth inning, who made quick work of the A’s in the ninth for his 18th save of the season. In his first season in pinstripes, Miller is a perfect 18-of-18 in save chances despite allowing two runs in his comeback game.

His return moves Dellin Betances to a setup role and automatically gives the Yankees a huge advantage late in the game along with Chasen Streve and Justin Wilson.

After Girardi surprisingly pulled Nathan Eovaldi after just 86 pitches, Betances and Streve — two of the dominant relievers in the AL — allowed the A’s to come back and take Game 1 of the series.

The Yankee lineup does need to make some changes with the bottom of the order struggling at the plate, and a new second baseman is desperately needed in the Bronx. With a lineup of Ellsbury, (CF) Gardner (LF), Rodriguez (DH), Teixeira (1B), Beltran (RF) when he returns from the DL, McCann (C), Headley (3B), Didi Gregorius (SS) and Drew or Jose Pirela (2B), NYY fans should look forward to a deep lineup and bullpen in the second half.

Kelvin Queliz is a New York Yankees writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @iamkelvinq, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on LinkedIn and Google.