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NEW YORK — Go ahead and add "lifesaver" to the long list of words Joe Torre has used to describe the dependable and near-flawless Chien-Ming Wang. But save room on your papers, because in a few months, you may be able to write "Cy Young Award winner" on it as well.

On Wednesday afternoon, facing one of the league's fiercest lineups, the Taiwanese right-hander lived up to his reputation once again. Earning his 16th win of the year - now tied with Toronto's Roy Halladay for most wins in the AL - Wang solidified himself as one of the elite pitchers in the game today and the franchise's face of the future.

On six days rest, Wang recorded his third straight win - eighth in his last nine outings - when he held the Detroit Tigers to just three hits over 7 2/3 scoreless innings of work. Throwing 109 pitches, 67 for strikes, Wang's control and composure throughout the afternoon resulted in only three Tigers reaching scoring position. And with the Tigers off base, Wang sailed to his 10th victory at Yankee Stadium this season.

As Wang walked off the mound in the eighth inning with a two-run lead - thanks to Craig Wilson's solo home run and Jason Giambi's sac fly, both in the fifth - the 18,000 Yankee fans in attendance showered the timid 26-year-old with a well-deserved standing ovation. As they did with names such as Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams and Mariano Rivera, the New York fans have watched an ace in the making over the past year and a half. In all likelihood, the best is yet to come.

"You're in uncharted waters where he is right now," Torre said. "The number of pitches he's thrown and innings pitched and stuff like that. But we try to take as good as care of him as we can."

Back in spring training of 2005, the Yankees knew they had something special in Wang, which is why Brian Cashman held on to the right-hander with a Vulcan death grip. As a rookie, along with Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera, Wang quickly proved his worth to the city of New York and earned the respect and admiration of the entire Yankee organization.

This time last year, most players, including the Captain, Derek Jeter, could not imagine their non-English speaking teammate, who they often jokingly refer to as "Wang" (pronounced as spelled), would be a candidate for the Cy Young Award this early in his career. With just four weeks left in the season, Wang could very well earn the prestigious award thanks to his work ethic, professionalism and desire to succeed in the United States.

"We knew he was good, but how good you don't know," said pitching coach Ron Guidry. "When you put a guy that's capable of pitching the way that he has with the stuff that he has with the team that he has here, you're going to be pretty deadly.

"(Right now) He's the one that's pitching the best. Wang has been throwing as good as anyone else."

As expected, Wang showed no emotion when asked to comment on his run for the Cy Young. In fact, the right-hander wasn't even aware he was tied for the lead in the majors.

"I never think of that," Wang said.

"I sure hope so," said Guidry when asked if Wang had a chance to win. He has just about as good a chance as anybody else."

Wang admitted he's been throwing the ball, especially his sinker, the best he has all year, and has taken the mound with nothing but the batter and the game in mind. Wang hasn't thought about his numbers, his record or any awards that may come his way. He's just "very happy" about his new-found success in the states.

"I know he's been very important for us," Torre said. "To me, I think the most important thing for us, and I think you can as Wang right now, if he had the choice of winning that award or going to the World Series, I think he'd choose the World Series."

The Yankees could have both.

Wang's victory not only moved the Yankees one game closer to the AL East Division title, they also now have the second best record in the American League. With yet another Red Sox' loss, the Yankees moved a staggering 8 ½ games ahead of Boston in the division, their largest all season.

"It's great and of course there's always a thought for a manager," Torre said, 'lets not get too excited too soon,' because we got this lead very quickly and it certainly could disappear quickly if you don't pay attention to what you're doing."