Astros Club Yanks, 9-1

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, April 30- On Monday evening, the Astros of Houston, playing their first game in Yankee Stadium as an American League club and coming off a four-game losing streak, wasted little in getting on the scoreboard.

After Andy Pettitte retired the first two Houston batters in the contest, the next five Astros successfully reached base. Three singled, one drew a walk and Carlos Corporan doubled. When the damage concluded, the visitors had scored three runs, Pettitte, though disappointed, felt the Yankees could still prevail in the contest.

With Coeporan on first and two out in the fourth, back-to-back doubles by Jose Altuve and Brandon Barnes resulted in two additional runs for Houston, bringing the score to 5-0. Pettitte, the veteran left hander, believed the turning point of the game came “on the 0-2 pitch to Barnes and getting it up” for a double. He stated, “It’s frustrating. To give up those five runs and not have a chance made me sick to my stomach.

Additional damage was done in the fifth. Pettitte was removed from the contest with runners on second and third. The new pitcher in the game, Adam Warren, allowed one of the runners to score after he uncorked a wild pitch. Two more crossed the plate on Corcoran’s first home run of the season.

The score at the end of 4 ½ innings was 9-0. The Astros did not score again nor did they need any further runs. The Yankees pushed one run over the plate in the sixth, but it had no effect upon the game’s outcome.

Pettitte’s performance was his least effective of the current campaign. It was his shortest stint (4.1 innings); he gave up the most runs (7) and the most hits (10) in any start this season.

The proud veteran hurler spoke with disgust of his performance, “[It was] just a poor job by me, just a sickening game. I felt pretty good starting the game. I didn’t quite get into the rhythm I wanted to. I can’t remember a game when I completely lost control of it [the cutter]. It [cutter] just didn’t have any bite on it.”

The result for Houston’s starting pitcher , Lucas Harrell, was very different than for Pettitte. The 27 year old gave up eight hits and only one run in 6.1 innings. The win was his third straight. Although his only previous experience versus the Yanks was 0.2 innings of relief in 2010, Yankees manager Joe Girardi was not surprised by what he saw, “He did exactly what we thought he would do.”

Hiroki Kuroda (3-1) will start for the Yanks and winless Philip Humber (0-5) will get the start for the Astros in the second game of the three game set on Tuesday evening.

Bronx News Sports: Yanks Refuse to Knuckle Under

Bronx News Sports: Yanks Refuse to Knuckle Under: Defeat R. A. Dickey and Blue Jays, 3-2 By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, April 29- The 3-2 win on Sunday gave the Yanks a four-ga...

Yanks Refuse to Knuckle Under

Defeat R. A. Dickey and Blue Jays, 3-2

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, April 29- The 3-2 win on Sunday gave the Yanks a four-game sweep of Toronto and raised their season mark to15-9. They are currently on pace to win 101 games.

Starting pitchers Phil Hughes of the Yanks and R.A. Dickey of the Blue Jays hooked up in a swiftly moving pitchers’ duel that lasted six innings.

For the third straight start, Hughes left the game with the Yankees trailing, 2-1. Uneconomical with his pitches, Hughes threw a season high 111 pitches in his six frames on the mound.

Hughes, still without a victory, has pitched in improved fashion in his most recent three starts. He remarked after the contest, “I’m happy with the last three starts. I thought I had pretty good stuff. I felt I could have made better pitches at the end.”

Three consecutive singles with two out in the fourth scored the first Toronto run. Edwin Encarnación beat out a slow roller down the third base line that remained fair. Melky Cabrera blooped a single to left and Adam Lind drove in the tally with a ground ball through the middle. Lind reached base for the eighth straight game.

A managerial decision led to the second run off Hughes. With Jose Bautista on second and two out in the sixth, Lind was intentionally walked. The next batter, Macier Izturis, doubled to score Bautista.

Dickey, pitching in New York City for the first time since his Cy Young Award winning season with the Mets in 2012, worked effectively and efficiently except for the home run ball.

Brennan Bosch hit a solo home run to right with one out in the second. The second and third Yankee runs were scored when Lyle Overbay drove Dickey’s 92^nd pitch into the stands in center, scoring himself and Travis Hafner, who led off the seventh with a single.

Both batters spoke to reporters about the Toronto knuckleball pitcher, Bosch said, “I faced him before. [To myself] ‘I said’ Let’s just have fun with this.” Overbay commented, “He’s definitely tough. He wasn’t making mistakes. You start taking an aggressive swing.”

Dickey was removed after seven innings, during which he walked one batter and only surrendered four hits. Sufficient damage was done because two of the four were home runs that drove in all three runs for the Yankees.

Despite the absence of Curtis Granderson, Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira, Russell Martin, Andrew Jones, Raúl Ibañez and Nick Swisher, who accounted for 194 of the club’s 245 homers in 2012, the Yanks are currently leading the American League in home runs with 35.

The Yankee bullpen continued to live up to the words of Overbay, “Our bullpen has been our savior,” which were spoken after Sunday’s contest. Each of the relievers, Boone Logan, David Robertson and Mariano Rivera, pitched a scoreless inning. Logan earned the win and Rivera notched his ninth save of the month in nine save attempts. Rivera has converted his last 32 save opportunities at home.

Of the unparalleled closer, manager Joe Girardi proclaimed, “He’s like Jeet [Jeter] and Andy [Pettitte]. There’s not much they can do that’s going to surprise you.”

The Yanks will host the Houston Astros the next three nights. Veteran Andy Pettitte (3-1) will face right hander Lucas Harrell (2-2) on Monday evening.

CC Stops Blue Jays

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, April 28-On Saturday, for the first time in two weeks, a crowd of over 40,000 came to Yankee Stadium to see the to see the Yanks play. The beautiful day, sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-60’s, was made more beautiful for the 40,258 in attendance by the third consecutive victory of the Yanks over the Blue Jays. To add to the excitement, each was a come from behind win.

As is usually the case, the Yankees bullpen gets an undue respite when Sabathia is the starting pitcher. Sabathia pitched eight innings on Saturday despite not being in command of his best stuff. In 2013, Sabathia has pitched eight innings in three of his six starts and hurled seven innings or more in five of the six.

The perseverance of Sabathia on the mound is not a new phenomenon Last year, Sabathia pitched at least seven frames in 19 of his 28 starts.

The veteran left hander threw 80 of his 112 pitches for strikes. He has not exceeded that number in 2013 and only bettered it in four of 28 starts in 2012, He did not walk a batter in the game, a feat he only reached one other game this season.

After the contest concluded, Yankees manager Joe Girardi heaped praise upon his ace starter, “We needed a big performance out of CC. We needed distance and we got it. He finds a way to get it done. I didn’t think he was as sharp today as he’s been in April. The way he competes when he doesn’t have his stuff is what impresses you the most.”

Sabathia earned his fourth win of 2013on Saturday, April 27, the first time he has won four in the first month of the season, Sabathia is in his 13th big league season.

Four of the five Yankees runs were driven in by the designated hitter, Travis Hefner. In a rare start against a lefty, Hafner came through. Trailing 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth, the first two batters, Vernon Wells and Kevin Youkilis walked. Hafner took a 2-1 pitch from R.A. Happ into the right field seats to tie the score.

“Yankees killer” Brett Lawrie hit a solo homer in the sixth to give Toronto a 4-3 advantage.

The final two runs were scored in the bottom of the seventh. Robinson Cano doubled. He scored on a single by Wells. The winning run, Wells, was driven across the plate on a triple by Hafner.

The Yankees will attempt to achieve a four game sweep over Toronto on Sunday afternoon. Phil Hughes (0-2) will start for New York against R. A. Dickey (2-3) for Toronto. As a Met, Dickey was the National League Cy Young Award winner.

New injuries plague Yankees

Despite New Injuries, Yanks Defeat Blue Jays, 6-4

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, April 27- Most Yankees fans felt despair in the early moments of Friday night’s game versus Toronto.

Catcher Francisco Cervelli was removed from the game after three pitches were thrown. Cervelli suffered a fractured right hand from a foul tip. He will require surgery on Saturday and is expected to be out for at least six weeks. Austin Romine will be recalled from the minors to replace Cervelli on the roster.

Starting pitcher Ivan Nova left the game after the first two Toronto batters in the third reached base. It was announced that Nova experienced pain in his right elbow. He was scheduled to undergo an MRI.

Another indication of the current situation on the Yankees is that the designated hitter, Ben Francisco, began the contest with a .103 batting average and nary a run batted in and was batting ninth in the order. After walking in the third, Francisco was pinch hit for in the fourth.

The first run in the game was scored by a lead-off homer off the bat of Edwin Encarnacion in the top of the second. It was the fourth consecutive game in which the first baseman homered. He homered again to lead-off the sixth inning. Encarnacion has driven in eight runs in the last four games.

The very slow moving contest was tied at two at the end of three frames. Eduardo Nuñez began the bottom of the fourth by drawing a walk. Lyle Overbay drove him in with a triple to center. The hit broke Overbay’s 0 for 16 batting streak. Overbay scored the fourth run for the Yankees on a wild pitch by Toronto reliever Brad Lincoln.

Reliever David Phelps, who followed Nova in the third, pitched a very effective four innings and earned the win. He gave up only two hits and one run, off the second home run by Encarnacion. Phelps fanned a career high of nine batters.

Chris Stewart, who caught Cervelli in the game, commented about his battery mate’s performance, “The four innings and one run ball was huge for us. Our long guy did what he needed to and more.”

The Yankees scored their fifth run in the seventh. Robinson Cano began with a double to right. He moved to third on a groundout and crossed the plate after a passed ball by catcher J.P. Arencibia.

The last two runs of the night were scored on solo homers in the eighth, one for each team, Jose Bautista and Brett Gardner,

The third game of the series on Saturday afternoon will feature Yankee ace C,C, Sabathia (3-2) versus J.A. Happ (2-1).

Yanks Still Homer

Even with Big Bats on Disabled List,
Yanks Still Homer

Three home runs propel Yankees to win over Blue Jays in the Bronx

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, April 26- Heading into a four-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays in the Bronx, the Yankees were leading the American League in home runs and third in baseball behind Atlanta and Colorado. That has been a pleasant surprise considering a lineup of noted home run hitters are on the disabled list.

After a shaky first few innings from starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda, (3-1) who settled down and got the win, Vernon Wells, Robinson Cano, and Francisco Cervelli provided the home run power off Toronto starter and loser Mark Buehrle that led New York to a 5-3 come from behind win over the Blue Jays.

Wells connected off Buehrle (1-1) with a solo home run in the second inning, his sixth of the season and third against his former team. That reduced the Yankees deficit to 3-1. Cano, with two on hit his seventh home run in the third and Cervelli hit his fourth with a solo shot to left giving the Yankees their fifth run.

“He’s got a new life going over there,” said Toronto Manager John Gibbons about Wells. Gibbons was ejected from the game in the bottom of the seventh arguing a bobbled ball at first base. It was his second consecutive ejection from a game and 22nd of his career.

Kuroda gave up home runs to Edwin Encarnacion and Brett Lawrie in the first two innings along with six hits and three runs. But, he settled down and to manager Joe Girardi that was his best outing in five starts. He did not allow a hit after a double from Munenori Kawasaki in the second inning.

Girardi said, “This might be his best performance of the year. It says a lot because he didn’t have a whole lot.”

Joba Chamberlain and David Robertson pitched a scoreless inning. Mariano Rivera retired all three Blue Jays in the ninth and recorded his seventh save of the season. For Buehrle, it was his seventh straight loss to the Yankees, 1-9 in 14 starts.

DEREK JETER UPDATE: Before the game, Derek Jeter visited his teammates and updated the media on his setback with a fractured left ankle. Out since Opening Day, the Yankees captain vowed he will return sometime this season.

“No doubt,” he said with confidence in the press meeting room. He walked to the podium without the ankle boot that he has been wearing, and added, “When you have doubt that is when you have trouble.”

The Yankees have set no timetable for his return and have been utilizing Eduardo Nunez and, Jayson Nix at shortstop.

“I’ve been told this bone will heal,” commented Jeter. “When it heals, I will be ready to go. It is frustrating that I can’t magically make it heal sooner than it is taking. But there is no doubt. I have no doubt. I’m not getting into timelines. The last timeline I set, I didn’t make. Whenever it heals, I will be back.”

Jeter, 38, was saying there is no timeline however the Yankees have previously said they expected their captain to return after the all-star break. Last week he was diagnosed with a crack of the ankle that was surgically repaired resulting from an injury last October 13, in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series.

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com

Bronx News Sports: Manhattan Drops Doubleheader Against Canisius

Bronx News Sports: Manhattan Drops Doubleheader Against Canisius: BRONX, NEW YORK, April 22- Last season, the Manhattan College baseball team won its second consecutive Metro Atlantic Athletic Conf...

Manhattan Drops Doubleheader Against Canisius

BRONX, NEW YORK, April 22- Last season, the Manhattan College baseball team won its second consecutive Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) title by defeating Canisius twice on the final day of the MAAC Tournament. The Jaspers and Griffs met for the first time since those championship tilts on Saturday afternoon at Van Cortlandt Park. Canisius (26-10, 6-5 MAAC) swept the twinbill, taking game one by a 9-5 margin before posting a 4-3 victory over the Jaspers (16-20, 6-8 MAAC) in the nightcap.

Manhattan got on the board first in Game One, scoring three times in the bottom of the fourth. Chris Reynolds (Wall, N.J.) started the rally by bunting for a base hit. Reynolds then stole second and Christian Santisteban (Miami, Fla.) drew a walk, putting runners on first and second with one out for Ramon Ortega (Miami, Fla.), who delivered an RBI single to center field. After a wild pitch moved the runners to second and third, Brendan Slattery (Danbury, Conn.) knocked them both in with a single to center.

However, Canisius countered with a four-spot in the top of the fifth. The Griffs started the inning with three consecutive doubles and later added an RBI triple by Brett Siddall and a sacrifice fly by Jimmy Luppens. Canisius extended its cushion to 8-3 with four runs in the seventh. The big blow in the inning was Anthony Massicci’s two-run single to center. Massicci then scored on Ronnie Bernick’s single in the ninth, making it 9-3 in favor of the Griffs.

Ortega crushed a home run that was just fair down the left field line leading off the bottom of the ninth, and Joe McClennan (Highland Mills, N.Y.) followed with a walk. Andrew Gorecki (Smithtown, N.Y.) then smashed a double to left center that allowed McClennan to come around. However, he was left stranded on second, as the Griffs’ Rohn Pierce induced a pair of fly balls to close out the 9-5 Canisius victory.

As a team, Manhattan collected six hits in the contest, with Ortega going 2-for-2 with two walks, two runs scored and two RBIs. Slattery went 1-for-4 with two RBIs, while Gorecki was 1-for-4 with an RBI double. John Soldinger (Bay Shore, N.Y.) (2-3) took the loss after yielding six runs on six hits in six innings. He also struck out four and walked two. Kevin Bonanni (Plainview, N.Y.) tossed the final three innings, surrendering three runs on five hits, striking out two and walking two.

Four different Canisius players finished with two hits, as the Griffs collected 11 hits as a team. Massicci was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBIs, while Bernick went 2-for-4 with a run scored and two RBIs. Garrett Cortright (7-2) earned the win after allowing three runs and four hits while also recording four strikeouts and four walks in eight innings. Pierce pitched the ninth was charged with two runs, two hits and a walk. He also registered a strikeout. In Game Two, the Jaspers picked up an unearned tally without the benefit of a hit in the bottom of the first. Nick Camastro (Lagrangeville, N.Y.) led off and reached on an error, and Reynolds bunted him over to second. Canisius pitcher Alex Godzak tried to pick Camastro off second base, but threw the ball into center field, allowing him to move to third. Kyle Murphy (Danbury, Conn.) then sent a grounder towards third and the Griffs tried to get the out at home, but Camastro beat the throw, giving the Jaspers a 1-0 lead.

The Griffs tied it with an unearned run of their own in the top of the second. Connor Panas singled to center field with one out, and he advanced to third when the ball was misplayed and rolled all the way to the wall. Massicci then singled to left, allowing Panas to score.

After Murphy and Santisteban led off the bottom of the fourth with back-to-back singles, Ortega put the Jaspers back in front with an RBI base hit to right. Godzak then retired McClennan on a foul pop up before Slattery ripped a single through the left side. Santisteban tried to score from second on the play, but was thrown out at home, and Canisius got out of the inning when Joe Rock (Carmel, N.Y.) popped up behind third.

Canisius immediately responded to take the lead. Chris Gruarin drew a one-out walk and Bernick followed with a single. Ryan Coppinger then sent a blast to the wall in center field that ended up as a two-run triple. Kelso was up next, and his scorcher back up the middle went for an infield hit, resulting in another run. Michael Martin (Massapequa, N.Y.) was then called upon in relief of Jacob Marchus (Miami, Fla.), and he retired the first two batters he faced to get out of the inning.

Murphy started a Manhattan rally when he was hit by a pitch leading off the bottom of the sixth. Santisteban then drew a walk, prompting Canisius to call upon closer Jon Fitzsimmons. Fitzsimmons got Ortega to fly to center, and Murphy tagged up in order to drew a throw. The throw to third went wide, though, and Murphy moved up on the error. McClennan was up next and dropped down a perfect bunt on a squeeze play, allowing Murphy to score and moving Santisteban to second as the tying run. However, Fitzsimmons retired Slattery on strikes to end the frame.

The Jaspers put the tying run on base again on Camastro’s two-out single in the seventh, but Reynolds struck out to end the game, giving Canisius a 4-3 victory and a doubleheader sweep.

Five different Jaspers singled in the game, with Murphy going 1-for-2 with an RBI and scoring twice. Ortega was 1-for-3 with an RBI, while Camastro went 1-for-4 with a run scored. Marchus (2-2), who’s normally used as Manhattan’s closer, made his first start of the season and lasted 4.1 innings. He took the loss after allowing four runs (three earned) and seven hits while also recording four strikeouts and two walks. Martin picked up a strikeout and didn’t give up a hit in 2.2 innings of scoreless relief.

Kelso was 2-for-3 with an RBI for Canisius, which collected seven hits as a team. Coppinger went 1-for-4 with a run scored and two RBIs, while Massicci was 1-for-2 with an RBI. Godzak (6-2) earned the win after surrendering three runs (one earned) and four hits with four strikeouts and a walk in five innings of work. Fitzsimmons notched his sixth save after yielding just one hit and striking out three in two innings.

The Jaspers, who prior to last week had not been swept in a home conference doubleheader since 2007, have now lost four straight MAAC games (and five overall) at Van Cortlandt Park.

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Bronx News Sports: Clinton Mauled by Lehman

Bronx News Sports: Clinton Mauled by Lehman: Photos by Gary Quintal The Lehman Lions walloped Clinton 14-2 at Dewitt Clinton High School. Clinton's starting pitcher ...

Bronx News Sports: Clinton Mauled by Lehman

Bronx News Sports: Clinton Mauled by Lehman: Photos by Gary Quintal The Lehman Lions walloped Clinton 14-2 at Dewitt Clinton High School. Clinton's starting pitcher ...

Bronx News Sports: Clinton Mauled by Lehman

Bronx News Sports: Clinton Mauled by Lehman: Photos by Gary Quintal The Lehman Lions walloped Clinton 14-2 at Dewitt Clinton High School. Clinton's starting pitcher ...

Bronx News Sports: Clinton Mauled by Lehman

Bronx News Sports: Clinton Mauled by Lehman: Photos by Gary Quintal The Lehman Lions walloped Clinton 14-2 at Dewitt Clinton High School. Clinton's starting pitcher ...

Clinton Mauled by Lehman

Photos by Gary Quintal

The Lehman Lions walloped Clinton 14-2 at Dewitt Clinton High School. Clinton's starting pitcher managed only one out while allowing the first 6 batters to reach base in a 6 run first inning. Heading into Friday's match-ups, Clinton is 3-3, while Lehman is 5-1. 

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Bronx News Sports: Yank Pitching Stops Diamondbacks

Bronx News Sports: Yank Pitching Stops Diamondbacks: By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, April 18- The Yankees won their seventh of the last eight games, 4-3, over the Arizona Diamondbacks on...

Yank Pitching Stops Diamondbacks

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, April 18- The Yankees won their seventh of the last eight games, 4-3, over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night. Outstanding Yankees hurling held opponents to three runs or less in six of the seven wins.

Yankees starters during that stretch gave up 15 earned runs in 52.1 innings for a sterling ERA of 2.30. The performance of the Yankees ace, CC Sabathia, on Wednesday continued the exceptional success of the starting staff during that period.

Despite a less than effective first inning during which he walked a batter and gave up three hits including a two-run home run to Paul Goldschmidt, who has reached base in all 14 games he played in 2013. Sabathia earned the win by how effectively he adjusted during his next seven innings on the mound. In that seven inning period, he surrendered only three scattered hits and one run.

The victory was Sabathia’s third straight. In those three successful contests, the starter pitched 23 innings and yielded only four earned runs, an ERA of 1.71. His control was quite impressive; four batters were issued walks while 19 fanned.

Yankee skipper Joe Girardi uttered words of praise for his ace starter after the game concluded, “He finds a way to keep us in the game. There’s a lot to be learned from how he goes about his business.”

Several questioned the manager about Sabathia’s lower velocity of his fast ball this season and then heard this response from Girardi, “To me. He’s really the same guy; he just doesn’t have the same velocity. He just has to hit his spots. If he does, he’s really going to be effective.”

The ninth inning, as it does in every close Yankees contest, belongs to closer Mariano Rivera. Mo, who has tied a major league record by saving at least one game for 18 consecutive seasons, saved another on Wednesday. Rivera retired the three batters he faced in the ninth to earn his fourth save of 2013 and a record 612^th of his career.

The Yankees runs were scored in the seventh and eighth innings. Those responsible were new arrivals in 2013 and less heralded Yankees holdovers from the past. Ben Francisco singled with one out in the seventh. A two-out rally began with a double by Brennan Bosch. A walk to Eduardo Nuñez loaded the bases. The first Yankees run of the evening after Jayson Nix walked. The game was tied at 3 by a two-run single by Brett Gardner.

The game-winning hit was a first pitch home run hit by pinch hitter Travis Hafner with two out in the bottom of the eighth.

Phil Hughes (0-2) will start the final game of the series on Thursday night. Patrick Corbin (2-0) will start for the Diamondbacks.

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Bronx News Sports: Bench Warmer Becomes Home Run Hero

Bronx News Sports: Bench Warmer Becomes Home Run Hero: By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, April 18- Travis Hafner sat on the bench Wednesday night for more than two hours. Bottom of the eighth ...

Bench Warmer Becomes Home Run Hero

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, April 18- Travis Hafner sat on the bench Wednesday night for more than two hours. Bottom of the eighth at Yankee Stadium, he gets the nod from Yankees manager Joe Girardi to pinch hit with two outs. And, as Yankees role players have been doing so well, Hafner connected on the first pitch off Arizona right hander David Hernandez.

The home run to right field was a difference as the Yankees came from behind and defeated the Diamondbacks for the second straight night.

Hafner is one of those supposed minor acquisitions that general manager Brian Cashman believed would be beneficial, along with Lyle Overbay and Vernon Wells. And with Derek Jeter, Curtis Granderson, Mark Teixiera, and Alex Rodriguez disabled with injuries, the role for Hafner is come off the bench, occasional outfield play or inserted as the designated hitter in the lineup.

Pinch hitting is more difficult, as Girardi would say, but Hafner has accepted his role and is ready to contribute when called upon.

“To sit two two-and-a –half hours that has to be tough to do,” commented Girardi about one of his super substitutes that have helped New York win seven of their last eight games.

It was the fourth pinch-hit home run in Hafner’s career, and his fourth of the season. He had 12 all of last year with the Cleveland Indians. The Yankees signed him to a one-year deal in February after spending the last 10-seasons with the Cleveland Indians.

“It’s moments like this that are really special, you remember a long time,” said Hafner about the home run. “Happy to be a part of the team and contribute tonight I was just looking for a good pitch to hit.”

Hafner added, he is enjoying his time with the Yankees and is swinging the bat really well. Time on the bench is not easy, but he knows right now the role is to be ready and he also realizes that when the injured return the playing time may be less.

“Pretty much I am ready the fifth or sixth inning on,” he said. “He, (Girardi) calls your name, be ready. I was looking to be aggressive and get a good pitch to hit and drive and fortunately I got it out.”

Most importantly, he said, “You want to contribute and help the team win.” 

Winning pitcher CC Sabathia, expects more from his former Cleveland teammate because he knows how valuable the veteran is. “When Haf walked in I expected him to do a lot more than what he has done,” said Sabathia. That got a laugh, however the Yankees are more than pleased with the production and contribution.

Said Sabathia, “In this ballpark, with his power all it takes is the right pitch and he got that today.”  

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com

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Bronx News Sports: Jaspers Snap Three-Game Skid

Bronx News Sports: Jaspers Snap Three-Game Skid: Win Over Army BRONX, NEW YORK, April 18- The Manhattan College baseball team broke a 1-1 tie with one run in the seventh and two in t...

Jaspers Snap Three-Game Skid

Win Over Army

BRONX, NEW YORK, April 18- The Manhattan College baseball team broke a 1-1 tie with one run in the seventh and two in the eighth, then held off Army’s ninth-inning rally to post a 4-3 victory over the Black Knights (16-17) at Doubleday Field on Wednesday afternoon. With the win, the Jaspers (16-18) snapped a three-game losing streak.

The Jaspers got on the board first with a run in the top of the second. Joe McClennan (Highland Mills, N.Y.) was hit by a pitch leading off the inning, then moved to second on Brendan Slattery’s (Danbury, Conn.) groundout and scored on a single by Yoandry Galan (Miami, Fla.). Army knotted the game in the bottom of the third when Harold Earls drew a one-out walk and came around on a double by Alex Jensen.

After leaving a runner on base in the fourth and two more in the sixth, Manhattan finally broke the tie with a run in the seventh. Chris Reynolds (Wall, N.J.) started the rally with a single to right before moving to second on a wild pitch. He took third on a Kyle Murphy (Waterbury, Conn.) groundout, then Ramon Ortega (Miami, Fla.) delivered an RBI double to right that put the Jaspers up 2-1.

Manhattan added two more in the top of the eighth. Andrew Gorecki (Smithtown, N.Y.) walked with one out and advanced to second on a wild pitch. After Galan struck out, Nick Camastro (Lagrangeville, N.Y.) delivered an RBI single to left field. He took second on the throw home before stealing third. That stolen base led directly to another Manhattan run, as Camastro came around on an infield single by Reynolds.

However, the Black Knights rallied in the ninth. Andrew Johnson started the inning with a double to left center and Michael Sands followed with a single to left. After pinch hitter Brock Davidson struck out, Justin Reece singled to center field, knocking in Johnson. Reynolds misplayed the ball, though, allowing Sands to score. Reece took second on a wild pitch before John Soldinger (Bay Shore, N.Y.) got Earls to ground to first, preserving a 4-3 victory for the Jaspers.

Reynolds was the only Jasper to have a multi-hit game, going 3-for-4 at the plate with a run scored and an RBI. Camastro went 1-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI out of the leadoff spot. Matt Jordan (Kingston, N.Y.) got the start on the mound and went four innings. He allowed one run and three hits, struck out three and walked three. Kevin Bonanni (Plainview, N.Y.) and Michael Scarinci (Nanuet, N.Y.) each threw a perfect inning of relief, while Michael Martin (Massapequa, N.Y.) (1-4) earned the win after giving up just one hit and striking out two in two shutout innings. Soldinger picked up his first save of the season after yielding two runs (one earned) on three hits while also striking out a pair in the ninth.Seven different Black Knights each had one hit, with Jensen and Johnson contributing doubles. Starting pitcher John Malcolm tossed two innings, surrendering one run on two hits, striking out one and walking three. Patrick Gardner allowed just one hit and one walk in three innings of shutout relief, while Brian Hapeman (0-1) took the loss after yielding one run on three hits in 1.2 innings of work. He also notched a strikeout. Jack Verrill was charged with two runs, two hits and a walk while also picking up a strikeout in 1.1 innings of work, and Gunnar Carroll gave up a hit and a walk and recorded a strikeout in the ninth.

Manhattan (6-6 MAAC) resumes its Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) schedule with a three-game series against Canisius (24-10, 4-5 MAAC) at Van Cortlandt Park this weekend. The Jaspers and Griffs will play a doubleheader on Saturday at 12 p.m., followed by a single game at 12 p.m. on Sunday.

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Bronx News Sports: Fordham to Honor Baseball Hall of Fame Greats

Bronx News Sports: Fordham to Honor Baseball Hall of Fame Greats: By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, April 17- The Bronx has been a place of learning, nurturing and growth for many greats in the wor...

Fordham to Honor Baseball Hall of Fame Greats

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, April 17- The Bronx has been a place of learning, nurturing and growth for many greats in the world of sports. Several of these legendary figures will be honored at Houlihan Park, the sparkling baseball field located on the Rose Hill campus of Fordham University, on Saturday afternoon, April 20. Plaques of the greats will be unveiled by current Fordham baseball coach Kevin Leighton and Fordham alumnus and benefactor James J. Houlihan.

The history of collegiate baseball at Fordham goes back in time to years before the Civil War began. Its first recorded intercollegiate schedule was in 1860, when the club compiled a mark of 40-7. The record of winning seasons continued until 1923, when the team was 14-17. The one aberrational season was followed by 24 straight winning campaigns. Fordham ranks #1 in wins of all Division I programs, with more than 4,000 victories.

Interestingly, Fordham’s first losing season, 1923, was the first year of Jack Coffey’s second reign as coach. He previously was coach from 1909-17. His second stint lasted through 1958. In total, Coffey’s teams were victorious in an astounding number of 1,095 games. Although Curry was a teammate of both Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb in the same season, 1918, he did not join the two in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown; he was inducted in the Fordham Athletic Hall of Fame in its first year of existence, 1971.

Dan Gallagher, the Fordham coach from 1984-2004, led the team to 518 wins, seven league titles and five berths in the NCAA Tournament. The molder of men was recently inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame (ABCA).

Five former Fordham students were elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. The first to be inducted, in 1946, was a turn of the twentieth century pitcher, “Big” Ed Walsh. Even in an era when power hitting and high scoring games were frowned upon, Walsh was superior. He hold the mark for the lowest lifetime ERA in the majors.(1.82). According to historians, Walsh was only on campus for two days.

“The Fordham Flash” Frankie Frisch was inducted into the HOF one year after Walsh. Still holding a Fordham Ram record of six hits in a single game, Frisch batted over .300 in the majors for 11 straight years. The great second sacker with the Giants and Cardinals played 19 years in the big leagues.

Two individuals with a lifetime connection to the Brooklyn Dodgers never played a game with the team. Walter o’  Malley was a graduate of the Fordham Law School in 1930. His law degree led to his hiring as the chief legal counsel of the Dodgers in 1947. Three years later, he became the team’s owner. Although he remained in control of the team for nearly 30 years, he is still a figure of contempt by many Brooklynites as the man who removed the team from the borough in 1958.

The second and still current link to the Brooklyn major league franchise Is Vin Scully. Scully became a broadcaster in 1950, after graduating from Fordham. It has become a lifetime job for the deservedly honored broadcaster as the octogenarian in currently in his 64^th year in that position. Scully was inducted into the HOF in 1982.

The fifth recipient of HOF honors was writer John Kieran. Three years after his 1912 graduation from Fordham, he was hired by the New York Times. He rose to become sports editor of the paper.

Esteban Bellan was a student at Fordham, at that time called St. John’s College, in the 1860’s. The Cuban native was the first of his nationality to play professional baseball in the United States.

On the day of the ceremony, Fordham will host George Washington University at 4 pm. The plaques of the greats will be unveiled at 3:30 pm. A barbeque will be held at 2 pm. Those interested in attending all the festivities should call ryan kirwan at 646-312-8223 or email at rkirwan1@fordham.edu.

Bronx News Sports: Bronx Stands with Boston

Bronx News Sports: Bronx Stands with Boston: Yankees Pay homage Boston (Photos by Gary Quintal) By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, April 17- So many ways Tuesday night at Ya...

Bronx Stands with Boston

Yankees Pay homage Boston

(Photos by Gary Quintal)

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, April 17- So many ways Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium there were reminders of how sports and baseball play a role to heal wounds. This time, a day after the Boston Marathon bombing that took three lives and injured over 180, there were the Arizona Diamondbacks, Jackie Robinson and number 42, plus a Fenway Park tradition, “Sweet Caroline.”

Yes, a tune that has been an eighth inning ritual of Red Sox nation came to the Bronx. Boston was in Cleveland and the Red Sox heard what the Yankees were doing to unite two cities who have shared in pain.

“It was such a tragic day,” said Kevin Youkilis, the former Red Sox player who now wears Yankees pinstripes. He would play in the Patriots league game at Fenway over the years, and venture off to the finish line viewing another conclusion of the annual Boston Marathon.

On a day off in New York City Monday, Youkilis spent numerous hours on the phone to see if friends and family were okay that make it a ritual on Patriots Day and attend the marathon. His wife and sisters have run in the event over the years.

Monday it was friends and a city, Boston, the only baseball organization Youkilis knew prior to wearing pinstripes. The Yankee Stadium electronic board outside displayed, “United We Stand” with Yankees and Red Sox logos and a ribbon on the big scoreboard inside displayed insignias of the teams and a message, “New York stands with Boston….Pray for Boston.”

“It gave me chills and was emotional to me to hear that,” commented Youkilis about the playing of “Sweet Caroline” after the third inning. “Because the fans were into it and it was cool.  Thought it was very special and a very great tribute to an organization that is a rivalry.”

A rivalry, New York and Boston that has diminished over the past few years, but when fans at Yankee Stadium are wearing Boston caps and jerseys near the pinstripes, there is a meaning of unity and emotion. It happened in the Bronx Tuesday night.

As was the meaning of wearing number 42 on Jackie Robinson Night as players, the managers, coaches and umpires did. Major League Baseball once again paid tribute to Jackie Robinson. And a player named “Robinson” Cano had the big three-run home run. The final score was 4-2, as in “42” and the lone remaining player who wears the number, Mariano Rivera saved a game for the last time on Robinson’s day.

Yes, it was an emotional and special night in the Bronx. The Diamondbacks made their first trip to the new Yankee Stadium.  They were 1-5 at the old ballpark across the street, and Rivera was the pitcher on the mound in that emotional World Series won by Arizona in Game 7 at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix back in 2001.

That World Series ended in early November because the baseball schedule was pushed back with the events of September 11. It was a series that helped mend the wounds of a nation still mourning the effects of a devastating terrorist attack.

“We’re all behind the people of Boston,” said Yankees manager Joe Girardi prior to the start of the game Tuesday night. And for a night Yankee fans united with Red Sox fans.

Because baseball and sports, the world of fun and games has a way of bringing that message of unity in a time of tragedy.

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com

Bronx News Sports: Cano, Yanks Honor Jackie Robinson with Win

Bronx News Sports: Cano, Yanks Honor Jackie Robinson with Win: (Photo by Gary Quintal) By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, April 17- The statistics registered during the game played between the ...

Cano, Yanks Honor Jackie Robinson with Win

(Photo by Gary Quintal)

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, April 17- The statistics registered during the game played between the Yankees and Diamondbacks at Yankee Stadium on April 16 were extremely appropriate for a Jackie Robinson Day contest. The enduring legacy of Robinson’s achievement in integrating the national pastime has been celebrated at every ballpark in the majors on April 15 or the date of the next home game since 1997, the 50^th anniversary of Robinson’s first game in the majors.

On Tuesday night, April 16, every player, coach, manager and umpire on the field at Yankee Stadium wore Robinson’s #42. In a short ceremony held before the game began, two of the 1,400 scholarship recipients from the Jackie Robinson Foundation were recognized.

Arizona reached the scoreboard first, scoring two runs in the top of the third. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases. A fly ball to center by catcher Miguel Montero was the first out of the inning, but also drove in the first run of the contest. The next batter, Cody Ross, singled to knock in the second run.

After leaving the bases loaded in each of the first two innings, the Yankees took the lead in the fourth. The first two batters, Lyle Overbay and Chris Stewart, singled to left. Robinson Cano, named in honor of Jackie Robinson, homered to right to score three runs, which were sufficient to ensure the Yankee victory.

Not only does Cano’s given name honor Robinson, but he wears #24, the reverse of Jackie’s #42, now retired on all clubs by Major League Baseball, to represent the debt he feels he owes to the Brooklyn Dodger legend,

Cano, batting a healthy .326 in his 12 games this season is currently on a tear. He is batting .500 (13 for 26) in his most recent six games. Seven of his 12 hits were for extra bases, four doubles and four home runs. He has driven in 11 runs in that span. That the Yankees have won five of those six contests was noted by reporters and Yankees manager Joe Girardi, who after the game commented, “When he got hot, we got going. He doesn’t take it for granted that he’s a good player. Robbie works very hard.”

After loading the bases in the bottom of the seventh, a fly ball by Eduardo Nuñez drove in the final run of the game, making the score an appropriate 4-2.

Mariano Rivera, the only major league player currently wearing #42, entered the game in the ninth frame. As expected Rivera retired all three batters he faced to earn his third save of 2013 and the record setting #611 in his renowned career. Girardi quipped to reporters, “It’s kind of funny seeing #42 facing three #42’s.”

Yankees ace CC Sabathia (2-1) will face undefeated Wade Miley (2-0) in game two of the series on Wednesday night.

Bronx News Sports: Kuroda Pitches Masterpiece

Bronx News Sports: Kuroda Pitches Masterpiece: Yanks Capture Rubber Game of Weekend Series over Baltimore By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, April 15- Neither the Yankees nor the Ori...

Kuroda Pitches Masterpiece

Yanks Capture Rubber Game of Weekend Series over Baltimore

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, April 15- Neither the Yankees nor the Orioles had a runner in scoring position during the first four innings of the rubber game of the weekend series at Yankee Stadium.

The two starters from Asia, Hiroki Kuroda, a native of Japan, representing the Yankees and the Korean Wei-Yin Chen, representing the Orioles, hooked up in a pitching duel in the early innings.

Three Yankee runners crossed home plate in the bottom of the fifth frame. The first two batters, Brendan Bosch and Francisco Cervelli singled. Two deep fly balls moved Bosch up. He scored on the fly ball of Jayson Nix.

Brett Gardner followed with his first home run of 2013, which scored two runs. Gardner’s drive hit the foul pole in right field. Of his homer, he remarked, “I was swinging on the first pitch. It was a pretty good pitch to hit.” He also gave credit to the men on base earlier in the inning, “Guys getting on base gave me the opportunity.”

T.J. McFarland, a 2012 Rule V selection from Cleveland, replaced Chen on the mound for Baltimore in the bottom of the seventh. He kept the Yankees scoreless in his two innings of relief.

Kuroda hurled his fifth shutout in the majors. Even the words “complete game shutout” do not adequately describe the extent of Kuroda’s outstanding performance. The Japanese native only gave up five hits and did not issue a walk during his nine innings. Kuroda did not allow any runner to reach second base. He also allowed the overworked bullpen one day of rest as he threw 113 pitches to complete the game.” He has pitched the last two complete game shutouts for New York; his most recent one was on August 14, 2012.

After the contest, Yankees skipper Joe Girardi praised the work of his starter, ‘I thought his sinker was excellent. I thought he kept them off-balance with his slider. He kept his pitch count down.”

After a day off on Monday, the Yankees will host the Arizona Diamondbacks for a three game series. The Diamondbacks will be making their first visit to the current Yankee Stadium.

Jackie Robinson Day will be celebrated on Tuesday. In honor of the baseball great, every player, in addition to Mariano Rivers, will wear uniform #42. There will also be ceremonies of remembrance.

The scheduled starters on Tuesday are Ivan Nova for the Yanks and Brandon McCarthy for Arizona.

Highbridge News: Boo Hughes

Highbridge News: Boo Hughes: Hughes allows three home runs in Orioles win over Yankees By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, April 14- Phil Hughes did not have command of...

Highbridge News: Boo Hughes

Highbridge News: Boo Hughes: Hughes allows three home runs in Orioles win over Yankees By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, April 14- Phil Hughes did not have command of...

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Boo Hughes

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Boo Hughes: Hughes allows three home runs in Orioles win over Yankees By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, April 14- Phil Hughes did not have comm...

Bronx News Sports: Boo Hughes

Bronx News Sports: Boo Hughes: Hughes allows three home runs in Orioles win over Yankees By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, April 14- Phil Hughes did not have comm...

Boo Hughes

Hughes allows

three home runs

in Orioles win

over Yankees

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, April 14- Phil Hughes did not have command of his fastball and the Baltimore Orioles took advantage. Hughes allowed three solo home runs in the second, third and fourth innings and never looked back as the Orioles defeated New York 5-3.

Baltimore took the middle game of three that concludes in the Bronx Sunday night after dropping game one of the series Friday evening.

When Hughes has problems with command of the fastball, the results have been consistent, especially when pitching at home. The right hander allowed 9 hits and five earned runs in 3-1/3 innings, and has allowed one home run in 31 of his last 42 starts at Yankee Stadium.

“One of those days and that’s what happens when you put balls over the plate,” said Hughes about the home runs balls allowed to Ryan Flaherty, Nick Markakis and Nolan Reimold. It was his second straight loss to open the season, and very reminiscent of his slow start of last year.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi saw similar command issues from Hughes last April. However with a revamped Yankees lineup that is hindered with injuries, the starters are expected to go some innings. New York is 1-5 this early season when their opponent scores first.

“He’ll get back at it and we’ll get him back on track,” said Girardi about his right hander.

The Orioles stopped a New York four-game winning streak after a late inning opening game loss of the series Friday night. Manager Buck Showwalter saw a struggling Flaherty, 1-for-18, before the home run, get the offense going with the long ball in the second inning.

“They don’t dwell on past things,” good or bad,” said Showalter about the resiliency of his club. “That’s one of the characteristics of our club.” Jason Hammel (2-1), 6.0 innings, 8 hits and three runs earned his second win of the season and Jim Johnson picked up his fifth save retiring all three Yankees at bat.

“He got a big out with Gardner (Brett), with Cano (Robinson) coming up,” commented Showalter. “To close out games on the road in the AL East is a tough, tough, thing to do. Jimmy has been impressive.”

David Phelps, Joba Chamberlain and David Robertson pitched six innings of scoreless ball and gave up two hits and combined to strike out seven.

Said Phelps about getting the first strike with his curve ball, a pitch that was ineffective, last week in a relief outing at Detroit, "My curve ball was best since spring training. Getting strike one was something I could not do in my first two outings and that got me ahead real well.”

Cano recorded his fourth straight multi-hit game, 2-for-5, and was inserted at shortstop in the ninth inning, his first position other than second base in his career and he was not surprised

“We were ready to do that in Detroit last week,” said Cano about making some plays at short, a position usually occupied by the injured Derek Jeter. “I was ready.” Cano, who played a limited time at short in the minors, also had the opportunity with Eduardo Nunez day-to-day after getting hit by a pitch to his right wrist Friday night.

Ring786@aol.com

Yanks Beat Orioles

The Hits Keep Coming

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, April 13-,The Yanks gained their fourth straight victory with a 5-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles to tie the Red Sox for first place in the American League East. The two teams most commentators thought would finish the season at the bottom of the standings are currently on top.

Two strange and rare plays were most responsible for the outcome of the contest. With the score tied at two in the seventh, Francisco Cervelli, Kevin Youkilis, and Travis Hafner reached base via walks. The bases were loaded and two men were out when Vernon Wells stepped to the plate. He connected and drove the ball deep to center where Adam Jones misjudged the ball and it dropped from his glove. The three runners crossed the plate to give the Yanks a 5-2 advantage.

The Orioles began the next frame, Sabathia’s final inning, with singles by Steve Pearce and Alexi Casilla To the surprise of everyone in attendance, the line drive by the game’s lead-off batter, Nick.Markakis, ended in a 4-6-5-6-5-3-4 triple play. Two of the Yankees infielders involved spoke humorously of the play.

Third baseman Kevin Youkils said, “That was a lot of fun. You’re not going to see another triple play turned like that. It was special.” First baseman Lyle Overbay joked, “We practiced that in Spring Training last week.”

The recipient of that fielding gem, Yanks starter CC Sabathia expressed his feelings, “Anytime you get a triple play, it fires you up. It was a great play. That’s [the play] that bailed me out.”

Interestingly, Sabathia was on the mound when the Yankee infielders achieved their most recent triple play, April 22, 2010. The Yanks previous triple play before that one occurred on June 3, 1968.

With or without that play, the Yankees starter pitched outstandingly. In eight innings on the mound, he gave up only two runs, one earned and struck out nine batters without surrendering a walk.

Youkilis led the Bombers with three hits, a run batted in and a run scored, He has hit safely in all his nine games since joining the club. The last Yankee to better that feat was Joe Buzas with 10 in 1945.

Andy Pettitte’s bad back has altered the Yankees rotation for the next two games against Baltimore. Phil Hughes will start on Saturday against Jason Hammel for the Orioles.

Bronx News Sports: Sports-Manhattan College

Bronx News Sports: Sports-Manhattan College: Jaspers Shut Out Marist BRONX, NEW YORK, April 8- Junior right hander Scott McClennan tossed a complete game shutout as the Manha...

Sports-Manhattan College

Jaspers Shut Out Marist

BRONX, NEW YORK, April 8- Junior right hander Scott McClennan tossed a complete game shutout as the Manhattan baseball team defeated Marist 2-0 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) action on Sunday afternoon. It was the third win in four games for the Jaspers (13-15, 5-4 MAAC) as they won the series against the Red Foxes.

McClennan was the benefactor of some solid defense behind him as the Jaspers turned four double plays in the game and had two outfield assists. Meanwhile, the offense took advantage of a poor outing from starter Rich Vrana and got some timely hitting to push across their two runs.

After working around a two out double in the first, McClennan got the first of multiple great defensive plays in the top of the second. With a runner on first and one out Brendan Slattery  dropped a fly ball in left that put runners on first and second. Eric Helmrich then laced a single into centerfield and as Zach Passerelle tried to score, center fielder Aidan John O’Leary  threw a perfect strike to home just ahead of the runner for the second out. McClennan then picked off Joey Aiola at second base to end the threat.

In the home half of the inning, Manhattan was able to push across a run without recording a hit. Freshman designated hitter Chris Reynolds reached on a fielder’s choice and then stole second before reaching third on a wild pitch from Vrana. Then, with one out and runners on the corners, Joe Rock brought him in with an RBI groundout to third for the 1-0 lead.

Another fine defensive play came in the top of the third when Jake Berry hit a two out single down the left field line but was thrown out by Slattery at second base trying to stretch it into a double.

The Jaspers looked for more in the fifth after getting the first two runners on with nobody out. Marist then turned to their bullpen as Jordan Eich came on to pitch getting one out before allowing a single to Kyle Murphy that loaded the bases. He was then pulled in favor of Kevin McCarthy who got Ramon Ortega to ground into an inning-ending double play.

Marist (15-11, 6-3 MAAC) tried to find the tying run with small ball in the sixth as Matt Pagano singled to lead off before being sacrificed over to second. They would be unable to bring that run home though as Zach Shank hit a sharp line drive to third where Murphy made a leaping catch before doubling up Pagano at second. Manhattan would drive in another run in the bottom half of the frame when Rock hit a two out single to centerfield scoring Slattery.

That would prove to be more than enough offense needed as McClennan (3-2) scattered six hits throughout the day with no walks and one strikeout despite hitting two batters. In the ninth Berry reached on a fielding error by first baseman Vin Teixeira  with one out but McClennan got the next batter to ground into a double play to end the game.

Vrana (2-1) got the loss for the Red Foxes pitching four plus innings, allowing one unearned run on two hits while walking five batters and striking out two.

Bronx News Sports: Sports-Truman HS

Bronx News Sports: Sports-Truman HS: Truman Schools HS for Science (Photos by Gary Quintal) By Gary Quintal BRONX, NEW YORK, April 8- Truman opened their basebal...

Sports-Truman HS

Truman Schools HS for Science

(Photos by Gary Quintal)

By Gary Quintal

BRONX, NEW YORK, April 8- Truman opened their baseball season with a 12-0 shut out of visiting High School for Science, Math, and Engineering (HSSME) Friday afternoon.  

The contest was HSSME's first ever in the Baseball B division as they had previously been in the experimental division.   

Truman pounced for 2 runs in the first inning and followed with five run outbursts in the third and fourth innings. 

Bronx Sports-Pettitte-Mariano

Pettitte and Mariano help pitch Yankees to first win of season

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, April 5- Give the ball to Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera, two of the greatest to take the mound for the New York Yankees and chances are a win will come. They are two of the “Core Four” of five Yankee championships and Thursday evening in the Bronx they continued something good that will conclude this season.

Rivera, the all-time saves leader in baseball has announced this will be his last season on the mound, while Pettitte intends to continue. The pair extended their all-time record, a 69th save for Rivera getting Pettitte a win on the mound, as New York won their first game of the season 4-2 over the Boston Red Sox.

Boston took the first two games of the series that started the season for both teams at Yankee Stadium Monday afternoon.

Pettitte held Boston to an earned run in eight innings, improving to 18-3 in 27 career starts as a Yankee with the Yankees attempting to avoid a regular season series sweep of any length.

“It’s what Andy does using all of his pitches, his fastball, curve, slider,” said Yankees manager Joe Girardi who said he fed into the emotion that was displayed by the 40,611 fans when Rivera came out of the pen and close his first game of the season.

How many more times Pettitte and Rivera will do this again this season remains to be determined. What is known, there won’t be any more of these great moments after this year. And each time Rivera comes out of the pen, either in the Bronx, or a visiting town, there will be accolades and emotion.

“There is a lot of emotion but at the same time you can’t control that,” commented Rivera who recorded career save 609, after giving up a run and a hit in the ninth inning.

Pettitte got run support he needed with the first home runs of the season coming off the bats of Brett Gardner and Francisco Cervelli.

Said Cervelli about Pettitte, "He hit his spots very well. He was able to command and take command of the game.


“I felt strong and was able to get through early, able to mix pitches and make double plays,” said Pettitte who induced three double-play groundouts. He added, “You don’t want to get swept your opening series at home. We got some runs and timely hits when we needed them.’

And as seen so often the past 15-years, Mariano Rivera coming out of the pen to save a game was extra special for Pettitte.

“Glad I could contribute and give us a good outing,” he said. “Obviously I feel real secure and good about things when you see that guy come run in from the bullpen,” referring to Rivera.

More importantly it was a win for the Yankees, three games into the season. They said an important task is ahead, a long season of course as they embark on their first road trip to Detroit and to an improved Cleveland Indians team. The task is to get healthy, and the win significant.

They did not want to leave the Bronx and not have a win. “You don’t want to lose don’t want to get swept,” added Pettitte. “It’s all about winning series and focus on winning series.

And in the minds of the Yankees, and their fans it’s all about not wondering of the day when Pettitte and Rivera are no longer available.

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com