Bronx News Sports: Oy Vey, What a Yankee Matinee

Bronx News Sports: Oy Vey, What a Yankee Matinee: "New York Yankees 14"" Art-Glass Table Lamp" (Google Affiliate Ad) New Era Men New York Yankees Royal/white 5950 Fitted Hat (Google Affiliat...

Oy Vey, What a Yankee Matinee

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Blue Jays Defeat Yankees, 8-5, in a Wednesday Matinee at Yankee Stadium

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, August 29- In a game that appeared longer in time than the three hours and 37 minutes it lasted, the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Yanks, 8-5. The victory gave the Blue Jays a series win, two games to one.

Yankees skipper Joe Girardi discerned several reasons for his team’s defeat, “We had a ton of chances and we just didn’t get it done. It was a combination of a lot of little things. We just didn’t play well.”

Although he pitched a fairly effective seven innings, starter CC Sabathia faltered in the third and sixth innings, which resulted in his first loss since June 7. He had been victorious in his last six decisions.

Sabathia did not surrender a hit in five of his seven innings on the mound. The only baserunner in those frames was Edwin Encarnacion, who reached first on an error by Derek Jeter.

The early damage to the Yanks occurred in innings three and six. An error by third baseman Jayson Nix coupled with five hits allowed three unearned runs to score in the third.

After Sabathia retired seven consecutive batters, Alan Lind led off the sixth with a single to right. Yunel Escobar followed with a two-run homer to left. Kelly Johnson and Adiemi Hechavarria singled later in the inning, but Sabathia struck out the side to prevent any further damage.

Sabathia lasted seven innings, giving up five runs, three earned and nine hits. He did not walk a batter and fanned eight. Although the consistent lefty has hurled less than six innings in only one of his 22 starts in 2012, Wednesday’s game was the fifth in his last 11 in which at least five runs were scored off him.

The serious minded and highly responsible starting pitcher gave himself blame for not pitching better, “Falling behind on counts…was my fault. I need to make better pitches. I didn’t do that today. Today was a day we had the lead and I gave it up. That’s my fault.”

Having used David Robertson and Rafael Soriano during each of the previous three contests, the Yanks needed five relievers to complete the final two innings. The pen men did not finish the game successfully, giving up three runs and contributing mightily to the defeat.

The Yanks scored the first two runs of the game in the first. Derek Jeter led off with a single, his 176^th hit of the season, first in the majors. He scored on a single by Andruw Jones. Curtis Granderson knocked in the second run on a groundout to second.

In the third, Granderson drove in Nick Swisher and Jones, each of whom had walked, with a double to left.

Each team pushed one run across the plate in the eighth.

Baltimore Orioles, breathing down the necks of the AL East leading Yanks, enter the stadium for a three game series on Friday night. Hiroki Kuroda (12-9) will start for the Yanks and Miguel Gonzalez (5-3) will start for the Orioles on Friday.

When asked if he felt discouraged to next face Baltimore, Girardi responded, “You look forward to the series to put more space between you and them.”

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Bronx News Sports: Huge Win for Hughes

Bronx News Sports: Huge Win for Hughes: "New York Yankees 14"" Art-Glass Table Lamp" (Google Affiliate Ad) New Era Men New York Yankees Royal/white 5950 Fitted Hat (Google Affiliat...

Huge Win for Hughes

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Redemption for Soriano

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, August 29- Rafael Soriano on Monday night was not perfect at Yankee Stadium. The efficient closer for the New York Yankees gave up a three-run homer run in the ninth inning that contributed to an extra inning loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. Tuesday night he rebounded with a perfect ninth as New York evened their series with the Jays, 2-1. 

The Yankees go for a rubber game win Wednesday afternoon in the Bronx in what now has become a tight race in the American League East with the Orioles and Tampa Bay.

Soriano struck out two Blue Jays and preserved a win for Phil Hughes (13-11), his sixth straight win at home.

“The best day I had all year,” commented Soriano who got his 34^th save.

Hughes pitched seven good innings and the only run allowed was a home run off the bat of Adeiny Hechavarria with two outs in the fifth inning, the first of his career. The Yankees produced a run on an RBI single from Nick Swisher in the third, and Curtis Granderson got a run on a sacrifice fly in the fourth.

It was one of those rare games that saw the Yankees fail to hit a home run. They came into the game leading baseball with 199. Manager Joe Girardi used newly acquired Steve Pearce in the cleanup spot of the order as the designated hitter.

With Alex Rodriguez on the disabled list with a broken hand, and Mark Teixeira out for at least a week with strained left calf, two power cogs out of the lineup, his team resorted to small ball off Blue Jays starter and loser Rickey Romero.

Romero (8-12), coming off a bad start against Detroit, yielded five hits in seven innings and had an extra day of rest.

“I’m just going to build off this,” he said.

Pearce walked, went to second on a wild pitch, and advanced to third on a groundout and scored on the Granderson sacrifice fly to center.

“The little guys in the lineup did a nice job in that role,” said Girardi. “We’re a little banged up,” he said about his team that has an important three-game series starting Friday evening in the Bronx w,ith second place Baltimore.

Said Girardi about how Soriano rebounded, “It’s hard when you do your job 95 percent of the time and not as easy when you don’t.”

Email Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com  Listen and watch Rich Thursday night from 10:30pm-12:30am live www.inthemixxradio.com 

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Bronx News Sports: Bronx Native DeFrancesco gets First Win as Astros ...

Bronx News Sports: Bronx Native DeFrancesco gets First Win as Astros ...: By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, August 27- A four-game sweep at the hands of the Colorado Rockies this week at Citi Field made it a mis...

Bronx Native DeFrancesco gets First Win as Astros Manager

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, August 27- A four-game sweep at the hands of the Colorado Rockies this week at Citi Field made it a miserable week for the New York Mets and their manager Terry Collins. In come the Houston Astros Friday night with the worst record in baseball and 47 games under .500.

So, one has to figure that New York would gladly welcome the Astros to their home park. However, the way things have been going for the Mets, the Astros welcomed their trip to Citi Field. As so it went Friday night as interim manager Tony DeFrancesco of the Astros got his first win and the Mets dropped a season tying sixth straight, 3-1.

DeFrancesco, who took over managerial responsibilities last week when Brad Mills was dismissed, was born in the Bronx and spent most of his youth up in nearby Rockland County and played college ball as a catcher at Seton Hall University.

After spending a few congratulatory moments with his team, DeFrancesco was greeted by 25 members of his family, including his mother, father and relatives in the visitor’s manager’s office.

“A great win for these guys and I am happy for the team the way they’ve battled back,” said DeFrancesco before his mother could come in and say, “Where’s my son?”

The night belonged to the Astros and it made for a perfect homecoming for DeFrancesco. He told his team to keep the momentum going Saturday afternoon. Starter Jordan Lyles, (3-10), the youngest pitcher in baseball won his first game in two months.

“We’re going to change momentum,” he said. “We’re going to change the attitude. I know it’s only one win, but the guys are at a good place. Even though it’s been a rough season, we’ve got a long way to go here and hopefully we can turn this thing around.”

New York took two of three games in the series, including the finale Sunday afternoon. DeFancesco came out to argue a bang-bang play at home plate in the ninth Inning. Ben Francisco got a single through the hole at shortstop, and a throw from left by the Mets’ Lucas Duda nailed Marvin Gonzalez at the plate. Had the run scored, the Astros would have taken a 2-1 lead going into the bottom of the ninth.

“It was a hell of a play by their catcher,” said DeFrancesco who would know something about a play that was handled well by the veteran Kelly Shoppach.

The Astros got five hits off Mets starter and winner Jeremy Hefner. At one point, Hefner was cruising and retired 12-straight Houston batters. “He was good at changing speeds,”  commented DeFrancesco.

In his office the congratulatory bottle of champagne from Friday night was still sitting on a shelf behind the desk. He was planning to put it in the luggage for the trip back to Houston.

Mom and dad met him again before boarding the team bus to nearby LaGuardia Airport. The 17-year minor league manager has a week in the big leagues and enjoying every minute of it.

“One thing I am pleased with is the way they are playing,” he said about his team.

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com  Watch and listen to Rich every Thursday live @ 10:30pm  on Keep it in the Ring: www.inthemixxradio.com

Late goal lifts Monroe women over top team

Freshman Zigic blasts away nation's #6-ranked team

By Gary Axelbank

BRONX, NEW YORK, August 27- A goal with time running down lifted the Monroe Mustangs women's soccer team 3-2 over the nation's #6-ranked team in their first game of the season and their first as a Division I team.  

The win over Monroe Community College on their home field in Rochester, NY was made possible by an 86th-minute goal by freshman midfielder Sandra Zigic just a minute after the Tribunes had fought back to tie the game. Zigic's goal set off a celebration by the Mustangs and, more importantly, signaled high hopes for Monroe's new season. 

"This was a sweet win," said first-year head Coach Jonathan Garbar, "but make no mistake, we have a lot of work to do to prove ourselves in this higher Division. I am proud of us for getting this one, especially after they came back to tie, but we are going to pull up our socks and shin guards ready to do battle once again tomorrow."

Monroe took a first-half lead on a goal by All-American British sophomore Mikaela Howell, who was assisted by freshman Kaitlin Merino in the 25th minute. Howell returned the favor by assisting Merino in the 49th minute, as the 5'1" midfielder from Queens got her first-ever goal for Monroe.

The Mustangs' 2-0 lead was cut in half by Monroe CC in the 64th minute and then completely negated in the 85th minute.

That set the stage for Zigic's heroics. Also assisted by Howell, the Croatian blasted a goal from the left side in the 86th minute to give the Mustangs the win.

Bronx News Sports: Mustangs open the season as tournament champions

Bronx News Sports: Mustangs open the season as tournament champions: Cordero crowned MVP By RJ Troche BRONX, NEW YORK, August 27- You can't do better than opening the season with a title. The nationally- rank...

Mustangs open the season as tournament champions

Cordero crowned MVP

By RJ Troche

BRONX, NEW YORK, August 27- You can't do better than opening the season with a title. The nationally- ranked #14 Monroe Mustangs women's volleyball team was crowned champion Saturday night in the Niagara CCC Thunderwolves tournament after going a perfect 5-0 to open their season, all in one grueling day. Leading the charge for the Mustangs was freshman outside hitter Tathianna Cordero who finished the day with 40 kills, three aces and five blocks and was named the tournament's “Most Valuable Player.”

“This was a great way for us to start the season,” said coach Nephtali Delgado Reyes. “All of our players contributed in different aspects of the game and they all came together as a team in order to win the tournament."

“Tathianna did a great job for us today,” said Coach Delgado Reyes. “But, we still have a lot of work to do to get to the level we expect in order to achieve our goals. Overall, though it was a great win for the team and it shows what we are capable of.”

Monroe began the tourney in a similar fashion as they did last year and produced the same result. In the first round of pool play (9:00am) the Mustangs defeated Onondaga CC 2-0(27-26, 25-12).  Stats for the game

Monroe then defeated both Lorraine CC 2-1(21-25, 25-18, 25-19)  -which proved to be their toughest opponent of the tourney- and District L rival Genesee 2-0(25-9,25-22) which positioned them as the number one seed in pool #1 and set up a semi-final round matchup against Nassau CC.

Stats for the Monroe vs Lorraine

Behind Freshman RS Lydia Ortiz's nine kills (in twelve attempts) and Cordero's eleven digs and two blocks Monroe defeated Nassau in straight sets 2-0 (25-15, 25-14). Sophmore RS Eli Rojas also had a stellar game, she recorded five kills in five attempts. Last season Rojas lead the Mustangs in kills and hitting efficiency.

Stats of the game

The Mustangs then faced rival Genesee CC once again in the championship game. Last year, Genesee ended Monroe's season when they defeated Monroe twice at the district tournament, becoming only the second team to hand the Mustangs a loss all year. However, this time around the Mustangs would not be denied. Monroe defeated Genesee 2-0(25-15,25-23)  and became tournament champions.

Stats of the game

Tournament notes:

- Second year head coach Nephtali Delgado Reyes improved to 34-4 lifetime at Monroe College.

- For the first time ever Monroe volleyball has started the regular season 5-0

- Eleven freshmen made their debut for the Mustangs.

Bronx News Sports: Mustangs Kick Off Football Season with Win

Bronx News Sports: Mustangs Kick Off Football Season with Win: By RJ Troche BRONX, NEW YORK, August 27- The first time Monroe Mustangs stepped on a football field against real opposition, they showed f...

Mustangs Kick Off Football Season with Win

By RJ Troche

BRONX, NEW YORK, August 27- The first time Monroe Mustangs stepped on a football field against real opposition, they showed flashes of brillance in an overwhelming 46-7 win over an undermanned Valley Forge Military Academy team that had many prep school players and a short-handed roster. Regardless, Monroe will start their regular season next Sunday 9/2 on Staten Island against Wanger's JV team feeling good about themselves after their first preseason win. 

"We started slow in the first half, but in the second half we saw more of the things we're capable of," said coach Terry Karg.  "We have more work to do to get where we want to be, but this was a good start."

Monroe marched down the field on their first possesion and crossed the goal line for the first time in their history, appropriately, when New Rochelle native Justin Johnson ran it in from six yards away giving Monroe a 6-0 early lead.

On Monroe's next possesion Johnson fumbled, opening the door for a Valley Forge touchdown, which turned out to be their only score of the day as Monroe took control from there. Monroe went into half time leading the Trojans by a score of 20-7 and piled it on, literally and figuratively.

Some highlights of the day:

Amar Williams was stellar. He scored two touchdowns, the first on a 54-yard punt return and the other on the ensuing Mustangs drive when he hauled in a 29-yard pass from quarterback Carlos Cortez (3-3 73 yards). 

On the final Valley Forge drive of the day, safety Jordan Ford (Calhoun Falls, SC) intercepted a pass on the Mustangs own five-yard line and returned it 95 yards for a touchdown to seal Monroe's victory. 

Bronx News Sports: Yanks are Sitting Pretty

Bronx News Sports: Yanks are Sitting Pretty: Beat Boston to Continue Command of First (Photo by Gary Quintal) By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, August 20- More than 330,000 fan...

Yanks are Sitting Pretty

Beat Boston to Continue Command of First

(Photo by Gary Quintal)

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, August 20- More than 330,000 fans came to Yankee Stadium during the most recent seven game homestand of the Yankees. Many fans took advantage of summer vacations to spend some time at the great ballpark in the Bronx.

The first four games were contests between the Texas Rangers, leaders of the American League West, and the Yanks, leaders of the American League East. Fans could have been witnessing a preview of the ALCS. The battle between the two American League powerhouses was centered upon which of the two clubs would finish the 2012 season with the best record in the league, thus capturing home field advantage in the American League Championship Series.

The two clubs entered the series with identical won/loss marks, 67-47. The Yanks clinched the four-game series by winning the first three contests while holding the Rangers to a total of four runs. Yankees starters David Phelps, Hiroki Kuroda and Freddy Garcia each won one contest.

The Texas offense came to life in the final game on Thursday by scoring 10 runs on 16 hits. The 10-6 victory allowed the Rangers to leave the Bronx without having been swept.

Although the Yanks gave up 10 runs on Thursday, manager Joe Girardi reflected on the team’s fine work, “We pitched pretty well. We swung the bats pretty well. We played pretty good baseball. We’re in the race for the best record.”

After the Rangers limped out of town on Thursday night, the Boston Red Sox began their second three-day visit within a month. The three sell-out crowds were treated to some interesting baseball between the arch-rivals in the American League East.

The Yanks, more than any other club in the majors, have lived and died by the home run. On Friday, their season high of five homers provided them with a 6-4 victory over the Red Sox. On Saturday, the only run scored by New York was by a solo home run by Curtis Granderson. The single run was not sufficient as Boston won by a score of 4-1.

The multi-homer hitter for the Yankees on Sunday night was not the usual suspect. Icharo Suzuki homered in consecutive at bats to the delight of the full house. He followed the two four baggers with an infield single. Much less surprising was that Derek Jeter hit safely in his first three at bats. The three hits raised his career total to 3,251, one below Napoleon Lajoie, who is in 12^th place. The four Yankee runs were scored by the two future Hall of Famers, Jeter and Suzuki. Each crossed the plate twice during the game.

Hiroki Kuroda held Boston scoreless for 6.1 innings before surrendering a solo home run to Adrian Gonzalez. That homer was the only run given up By Kuroda in his eight innings on the mound. The 4-1 win was the ninth in his last 11 decisions.

The Yanks are still leading the race in the A.L. East, but the final outcome has not been decided. Tampa, in second place, has won 11 of its last 13 and Baltimore, in the third place, has won 11 of 15. The Yanks will face the Rays in six additional games and will play Baltimore on seven more occasions. The Yankees have kept pace with their challengers, winning 9 of their last 12 contests. The home games were not only a financial success, but were beneficial to the pennant race for New York as the Yanks won five of the seven games played.

The ability of the Yankees to win on the road as effectively as they do at Yankee Stadium will also be a factor in the race for the American East title as 16 of the club’s next 22 games will be played on the road.

The answer to where the Yankees will place as the regular season concludes may be a little clearer to discern on August 27 when the Yanks return to the Bronx after a six game road trip.

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This Sox! Boston Strikes Back

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, August 19- The Red Sox evened the weekend series at Yankee Stadium by taking Game #2 on Saturday afternoon, 4-1. Home runs were, of course, hit by each team and again determined the outcome of the contest.

Adrian Gonzalez hit a two-out, two-run homer in the first inning to put the first two runs on the scoreboard. After the conclusion of the game, Boston skipper Bobby Valentine remarked, “He’s been hitting the ball to the warning track here. I think he put a little more pump in his swing.” 

The two runs batted in raised his Major League leading total to 39 since the All-Star break. Gonzalez, with two hits in three official at bats and an intentional walk, continued his torrid offensive production during the second half of the 2012 season.

Gonzalez began the game 2^nd in batting average, 4^th in slugging percentage, and 7^th in on base percentage in the American League since July 13. The first baseman has hit safely in 26 of his last 33 games.

A new Yankee killer on the Sox, Pedro Ciriaco, went 4 for 4 in the game. His only previous four hit game came on July 7, his first game on the Red Sox, and was also against the Yankees. The shortstop is batting .517 (15 for 29) in seven games against the Yankees. His “cousins” have helped him raise his batting average this year to .343.

Of the 26-year old who has only played 31 games in the big leagues before joining the Red Sox in July, valentine stated, “It amazes me that with that kind of talent, he hasn’t been utilized before.”

Nick Swisher has become the Yankees biggest offensive weapon against Boston. He went 3 for 4 which raised his batting average against the Red Sox to .480 (16 for 33) this year.

Dustin Pedroia’s double in the eighth increased his consecutive game hitting streak to 13. On the other hand, Derek Jeter’s 13- game hitting streak ended as he went 0 fo3 at the plate.

The only Yankee run in the game was scored in the fourth on Curtis Granderson’s 32^nd homer of the season.

Pitching was really the focus of the game as starters Jon Lester and David Phelps hooked up in a pitching duel. Lester gave up five hits and one run in seven innings to earn the win. Valentine said of the starter, “Another fine performance by a good looking pitcher, confident, aggressive.” Lester is 5-1 in his last six starts in Yankee Stadium.

Boston reliever Craig Breslow got Robinson Cano to hit into a double play to end the eight. Breslow and catcher Ryan Lavarnway ate the first big league battery of Yale graduates.

Former Yankees, Alfredo Aceves pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his 25^th save of the season.

Hiroki Kuroda (11-8) and Josh Beckett (5-10) will start the rubber game on Sunday night.

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Bronx News Sports: Stormin’ Yanks Bash Sox

Bronx News Sports: Stormin’ Yanks Bash Sox: (Photo by Gary Quintal) By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, August 18- All but one run for each club was scored via a home run on Friday nig...

Stormin’ Yanks Bash Sox

(Photo by Gary Quintal)

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, August 18- All but one run for each club was scored via a home run on Friday night at Yankee Stadium. The five homers clouted by the Bronx Bombers allowed them to edge the Boston Red Sox, 6-4.

The five long balls of the Yankees raised their total this season to a Major League high of 186. The Yanks, on a good run, have homered in 33 of their last 37 games. They are currently on pace to equal if not surpass their single season mark of 244, achieved in 2009.

Nick Swisher hit the first Yankee homer of the contest with one out in the first. He connected for another solo homer from the other side of the plate with one out in the seventh. This was the 12^th game in Swisher’s career that he accomplished this feat. He is only behind teammate Mark Teixeira, who has homered from both sides of the plate in 13 games.

The very hot Swisher has scored and driven in at least one run in each of his last six games. The streak is the longest by a Yankee since August 30-September 4, 2008 when Alex Rodriguez did the same.

Manager Joe Girardi said of Swisher, “He’s been extremely impressive. He’s done a great job there [batting in the second spot].”

Curtis Granderson (31) and Russell Martin (13) hit back-to-back homers in the second inning.

Derek Jeter led off the fifth with his 250^th homer, surpassing Graig Nettles on the Yankees. The homer was his 10^th of the 2012 season, which gave the Yankees a Major League leading total of 10 players (Robinson Cano, Eric Chavez, Curtis Granderson, Raúl Ibañez, Derek Jeter, Andruw Jones, Russell Martin, Alex Rodriguez, Nick Swisher, and Mark Teixeira) with homers in double digits. The hit also increased Jeter’s consecutive game hitting streak to 13.

Girardi praised the iconic Yankee hero, “He’s [Jeter] an amazing player. How many 38 year olds play 15 games in a row.”

Red Sox starter Franklin Morales gave up four of the home runs in 5.1 innings. In his only other start against the Yanks this year Morales also yielded four homers. Interestingly, in six other starts in 2012, Morales surrendered only one home run.

The Red Sox scored all their four tallies in the third inning. Although none of the four runs were charged to Yankees starter Phil Hughes his throwing error caused them to be scored. Mike Aviles singled to begin the inning. Hughes fielded an easy grounder by Scott Podsednik into center on what appeared to be an easy double play. With one run in and two on base Dustin Pedroia awarded himself three runs batted in with a homer into the left field seats as a present for his 29^th birthday. This was the third game in which Pedroia celebrated his birthday with a home run.

Hughes gave up only two other hits in his seven inning stint. The win ended his two game losing streak.  Girardi was pleased by his performance, “He got ground balls; he didn’t walk people; he got us through seven innings. It was great except for his throw to second.

David Phelps (3-3) and Jon Lester (6-10) will start the second game of the weekend series to be played on Saturday at 4 p.m.

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Yankee Pitching Can’t Slow Ranger Bats

(Photos by Ken Carozza)

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, August 17- The Texas Rangers ended their eight-game losing streak at Yankee Stadium on Thursday afternoon with a 10-6 victory over the Yankees. Despite the Texas win, the Rangers trail the Yanks by 1.5 games for the best record in the American League.

After holding the Rangers to a  lowly batting average of .199 (37 for 186) in their games during the 2012 season, the Rangers exploded for 16 hits and 10 runs on Thursday afternoon. After the conclusion of Wednesday night’s contest, Texas Rangers skipper Ron Washington accurately prognosticated the immediate future for his team’s batters, “What I see is that the past three days the Yankees pitchers have shut us down…We’ll bounce back tomorrow. Maybe we need the challenge of facing [Ivan] Nova tomorrow…Maybe tomorrow we’ll bust out.”

Texas busted out from the top of the lineup to the bottom and from the first inning to the ninth. All but one batter, first baseman Mitch Moreland, hit successfully, and Moreland walked twice. Twenty-two Rangers reached base successfully.

The hits were effective as the Rangers were successful in 6 of 15 chances with runners in scoring position. Adrian Beltre and David Murphy each drove in three runs with three hits. Craig Gentry also had three runs batted in, two on a single and one on a ground out. Elvis Andrus AND Geovany Soto each got two hits and drove in one run.

Both starting pitchers, Ivan Nova and Derek Holland, had very similar statistics; each pitched 5.2 innings and gave up four earned runs; neither was involved in the decision.

The Yanks concentrated their offense in one inning, the sixth. Five batters hit successfully and five runs were scored. In the other eight frames, the Yanks were limited to five hits and one run.

Two future Hall of Fame members, Derek Jeter and Ichiro Suzuki, had multi-hit games. Jeter’s single in the sixth drove Suzuki across the plate and increased Jeter’s hitting streak to 12 games. His single in the next inning raised his career total to 3,247, five from tying Napoleon Lajoie for 12^th place in career hits. Suzuki got singles in each of his three official at bats, raising his batting average as a Yankee to above .300 (24 for 77).

On Friday night the Boston Red Sox come to the Bronx for a three game series. Phil Hughes (11-10) will start for the Yanks and Franklyn Morales (3-3) will start for Boston.

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