BRONX, NY -- Joe Girardi's eyes were damp, and several of his Yankees stared into space as they stood clapping. Most everyone at the Stadium was on their feet, cheering, for about three minutes following a video tribute to George Steinbrenner, part of the emotional ceremony Friday night celebrating the famous owner before the Yanks' first game since The Boss' death on Tuesday.  Steinbrenner and The Voice - P.A. announcer Bob Sheppard, who died on Sunday - were both feted during a 20-minute tribute in which closer Mariano Rivera laid two long-stem roses on home plate to honor each Yankee icon and shortstop Derek Jeter called both men "shining stars in the Yankee universe."  After honoring The Boss, the Yankees then honored Steinbrenner's prime directive - to win - by rallying to beat the Rays, 5-4, in front of 47,524. Nick Swisher hit a game-winning RBI single in the ninth inning off Lance Cormier, knocking in Curtis Granderson from second base and bringing most everyone in the ballpark to their feet. "The agenda today was winning," Swisher said. "On a day like this when we celebrate his life, we've gotta take him out with a 'W.'... It was Mr. Steinbrenner's day."

"Seems like every time you come to Yankee Stadium, there's an opportunity for something special to happen," added Jeter. "It did, for those of us who played in the game and those who were here.  "It was a victory The Boss would've loved - winning, after all, is second only to breathing, to paraphrase one of his famous lines. And it came against the team from Steinbrenner's adopted hometown of Tampa, a club he especially wanted to beat, whether it was in the sleepy days of spring training or the heat of the regular season.  Steinbrenner would've liked that it was Swisher who got the key hit, too. Swisher, who got hit by a whipped-cream pie in the postgame celebration, went to Steinbrenner's beloved Ohio State. "The two things I know Mr. Steinbrenner loved - he loved his Yankees and he loved his Buckeyes and a Buckeye got it," Girardi said.  Swisher, who also tied the score at 4 with an eighth-inning homer, said he regretted not having the chance to know Steinbrenner as well as older teammates such as Jeter, Rivera, Jorge Posada and Andy Pettitte did. Swisher had met Steinbrenner only twice, he said. There was a chance for a third meeting, but Swisher, as a college ballplayer, was too shy to approach The Boss when they were both eating at a Columbus rib joint.  Swisher's hit was a lift on a night when most Yankees admitted they were distracted. Several, including Girardi, had talked pregame about filing away grief during the game, but that became impossible - remembrances of Steinbrenner flickered on the scoreboard screen in between innings all night. CC Sabathia said he sat on the dugout bench after the initial ceremony and told pitching coach Dave Eiland, "I'm sadder than I thought I'd be." Posada, who tied the score at 3 in the sixth with a solo home run, said at one point during the night he looked heavenward and said, "This one's for you."

Girardi wept during his pregame press conference and then did so again after the game, his eyes red and his voice cracking. A recording of Sheppard's voice was the first thing heard at the ceremony, and later the man who was the Yanks' P.A. announcer for 57 years was saluted with silence - just before the game began, current P.A. announcer Paul Olden said the public address system would not be used during the game.  Jeter stood at a microphone on the field and was the only Yankee to speak. Working without notes, he noted the two men "cared deeply about their responsibilities to this organization and to our fans. For that, they'll be forever remembered in baseball history and in our hearts. Simply put, Mr. Steinbrenner and Mr. Sheppard both left this organization in a much better place than when they first arrived. They've set the example for all employees of the New York Yankees to follow."  Then he asked the crowd to join in a moment of silence, which was followed by a rendition of 'Taps' performed by Staff Sergeant Mikki Skinner, a bugler with the West Point Band. Following the national anthem, fans began chanting, "Let's Go, Yankees!" and the team got back to the business of baseball. "I thought the tribute was beautiful, the roses at home plate," Girardi said. "On a night that's a sad night, The Boss would be proud and I think Bob Sheppard would've loved to be the P.A. for this game."