POWER HOUR: Russell Martin flips his bat as he watches his three-run homer during the Yankees’ five-run third inning. (Reuters)
Are they on the edge of separating themselves from the plucky Orioles? Or nine innings away from driving into another ditch?
Yesterday the Yankees demonstrated personalities that could make each scenario come true.
In the end, the Yankees danced into today’s off day, the last of the season, with a 6-4 victory over the Rays before 43,489 at Yankee Stadium.
The Yankees enter their off day a game up on the Orioles, who won 9-5 in Oakland, and five games up on the Rays.
Sixteen games remain for the Yankees to win the East, back into the postseason via one of the two wild-card doors or not make the playoffs for the second time in five seasons under Joe Girardi.
“They better rest because we have a grind left,’’ Girardi said about today’s off day that is followed by 16 games in 16 days.
Yesterday’s grind was harder than it should have been. Yes, Evan Longoria’s bad-hop, two-run single in the sixth was impossible to defend. But two walks and a dropped foul pop by Steve Pearce while reaching into the first-base seats contributed to the rally that cut the Yankees’ lead to 6-4. And the Yankees didn’t score in the final four innings.
For five innings, Hiroki Kuroda (14-10) dominated the light-hitting Rays, who started the day tied for the third worst batting average (.238) in the majors.
Kuroda’s stumble in the sixth when he walked two, including No. 9 hitter Jose Lobaton, was a reminder how fragile the Yankees are, even if Kuroda — whose 14 wins is the most in his major league career — ran into tough luck during the three-run rally.
Russell Martin’s three-run homer, Alex Rodriguez’ two RBIs, Eduardo Nunez’ legs that swiped three bases and scored twice, and three innings of shutout relief by four relievers ending with Rafael Soriano’s 40th save, carried the Yankees to their seventh win in 11 games.
“We talked about playing better baseball and we are starting to do that,’’ Girardi said.
Five runs in the third off Matt Moore set the table for a rare laugher.
“Winning the series [two of three], hopefully it propels us to get on a streak,’’ said Nick Swisher, who contributed to the rally with a sacrifice bunt.
“When we have small ball and Bronx ball, it’s fun,’’ said Swisher, who bunted on his own.
Martin’s 17th homer, an opposite-field drive to right, was the big blow and Derek Jeter and Rodriguez also drove in runs in the five-run third. Rodriguez added a sacrifice fly in the fourth.
“At that point I am looking for a good pitch to hit out over the plate. It was a fastball up and I put a good swing on it,’’ said Martin, who is in a 12-for-34 (.353) hot streak. “All I was thinking about was driving the run home from third base.’’
Three Rays runs in the sixth changed the complexion of the game and turned a developing laugher into a white-knuckler when Ryan Roberts reached first in the ninth with one out on a fielding error by Rodriguez.
But Soriano, who has converted 40 of 43 saves, fed Jeff Keppinger a ground ball that Nunez fielded and started a 6-4-3, game-ending double play.
“With that kind of run support, I really wanted to go deep in the game, seven, eight innings. But the bump in sixth inning was the only regret I have,’’ said Kuroda, who gave up four runs, four hits, walked two and fanned 10 in six innings.
Start of the separation drive? Or more of the second half inconsistency? We will know shortly.
george.king@nypost.com