Giancarlo Stanton Is An Important Part Of The Yankees Roster.

Perhaps it has been easy to understate Giancarlo Stantons expected importance to the Yankees roster, as Aaron Boone seemed to suggest.

That changed in game No. 76, as Stanton mashed a pair of key two-run singles and helped the Yankees extend their winning streak to a season-high eight games with a 7-5 decision over the Astros at Yankee Stadium.

The Yankees own a season-high 5 1/2-game lead in the American League East, and Stanton can at last feel like he is in on the fun.

Ailed by a left biceps tear, a left shoulder strain and finally a left calf strain, Stanton disappeared from the Yanks lineup after the third game of the season but re-emerged this week, just in time to join the club for what was supposed to be its most challenging stretch of the month.