And Joe Girardi, like the rest of the Yankees he managed through a road trip that lasted most of April, was just happy to be heading home.

After finishing a stretch of games in which the Yankees played 18 of 20 on the road, lost their All-Star starting catcher and endured injuries to the future Hall of Fame left side of their infield, the Yankees were glad to be coming home a game above .500.

"I've got to find my house key and all kinds of... I don't know what," Mussina said after winning his second straight game Monday night. "It's been so long since we've been home we just assume we're going to another hotel. Eighteen out of 20 -- basically, we played three weeks in a row on the road. Two games in the middle of that doesn't count for anything, so...

"A seven-city road trip over three weeks and I think we played .500 for that stretch... we should be pleased with ourselves that we came out at .500."

You certainly can't blame the Yankees for that attitude after the rough schedule and the injuries.

You also have to wonder if this first month will serve as a springboard toward eventual success or a harbinger that things may not get better.

Even with the win Tuesday night over Cleveland, the Yankees endured more bad news as Alex Rodriguez left early after being struck on his left quadriceps muscle with a pitch. Worse, Rodriguez acknowledged his right quad was still not where he wanted and said he may have returned too early.

He looked concerned in interviews after the game and said "there's no way I could play (Tuesday)" so it's one more thing for the Yankees to worry about.

They head home finally for a solid homestand, where they will get to find their keys, reunite with their wives and attempt to see if the coming month will bring better things than the last.

YANKEES 5, INDIANS 2: Aaron Laffey held the Yankees hitless for the first five innings, but they broke through in the sixth even if they didn't exactly tattoo the ball. The Yankees built a four-run rally on three infield singles, some RBI grounders, and a hit batsman. Hideki Matsui offered a more traditional insurance run with a double into the gap in the eighth. Mike Mussina pitched five solid innings and four relievers held Cleveland to one hit the rest of the way. The news was not all good though as Alex Rodriguez left the game after getting struck by a pitch in the sixth and said his right quad injury had gotten worse too. He will sit out Tuesday as well.