Bronx News Sports: Super Nova Shuts Out Orioles

Bronx News Sports: Super Nova Shuts Out Orioles: Hurls Complete Game Shutout of Orioles; Yanks Win, 2-0 By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, AUGUST 31- Unlike the previous evening’s 8...

Super Nova Shuts Out Orioles

Hurls Complete Game Shutout of Orioles; Yanks Win, 2-0

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, AUGUST 31- Unlike the previous evening’s 8-5 slugfest won by the Yankees, the Saturday matinee between the Yanks and Orioles was an old fashioned pitching duel.

After New York scored on a run in the first on doubles by Brett Gardner and Robinson Cano, the starting pitchers, Scott Feldman and Ivan Nova, hooked up in a duel that prevented another run from scoring through the seventh inning.

Feldman left the game after seven innings having yielded only one run, six hits, one walk and two hit batsmen. It was the second straight start in which Feldman gave up a run in the first and kept his opponent scoreless thereafter. The right-hander has yielded only one earned run in three of his last four starts.

After the contest, Feldman explained his thoughts regarding his success on the mound, “Just felt like mechanically things were a little better today. I’ve been kind of fighting them for the past couple and command was better as a result of that.”

Nova’s performance was as impressive as he’s had in the majors. It was his first complete game shutout. His previous complete game this season [on July 5] also took place in Yankee Stadium and was against the Orioles.

Other similarities between the two games against Baltimore were that in both Nova gave up three hits and walked one. The pitch count was also quite similar, on July 5, he threw 102 pitches with 70 being strikes and on Saturday, 67 of Nova’s 104 pitches were strikes.

Both managers were impressed, but not surprised by how well the 26 year-old performed. Buck Showalter of the Orioles commented, “The guy ]Nova] got a 2.9 something ERA in the American League East. We knew it was going to be challenging today and Scotty matched him for the most part.”

Yankee skipper Joe Girardi explained the specifics of and reasons for Nova’s improvement, “His stuff was really good. He kept them off balance. To me, the key was his fastball down in the zone. His fastball is better than when he won all those games. (15 straight wins from 6/10/11-4/27/12). His curveball is sharp and has a lot of depth.”

Girardi credits Nova’s desire to improve while he was sent down to the minors, “He went and picked himself up. He figured out what he had to do to be successful.”

Robinson Cano led off the eighth with a homer to right off lefty reliever Troy Patton. The homer was his 25th of the season and 202nd in Yankees pinstripes.  He drove in both Yankees runs.

Of the home run, Girardi remarked, “It gave us a little breathing room.”

An experienced infielder playing behind Nova at short, Derek Jeter, explained what he saw during the game, “He [Nova] was spectacular. You couldn’t ask for him to do anything more. Baltimore’s a great team and he was able to shut them down, which is exactly what we needed at his point.”

The victory moved New York .5 games ahead of Baltimore in the A.L. East standings. Both clubs need to win regularly to have a chance for post-season play.

Oriole shortstop J.J. Hardie commented on his team, “We don’t have long. We don’t have a whole lot left. The back’s kind of up against the wall. We need to start playing good baseball.”

Even though the Yanks won the last two with the Birds, Girardi knows they can’t let down, “We have to keep winning. You can’t rest on what you’ve done.”

Bronx News Sports: One down

Bronx News Sports: One down: Homers by Soriano and Ichiro Propel Yanks to 8-5 Victory over O’s By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, AUGUST 31-As September approaches, the b...

Bronx News Sports: Playoff Hopes on the Line

Bronx News Sports: Playoff Hopes on the Line: Another important series for Yankees with Orioles in the Bronx goes their way By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, AUGUST 31- They are as import...

Playoff Hopes on the Line

Another important series for Yankees with Orioles in the Bronx goes their way

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, AUGUST 31- They are as important as they come now for the New York Yankees, every inning and each series as the games dwindle to a precious few with the September stretch approaching. In the Bronx Friday night, and with their ace CC Sabathia on the mound, the Yankees got the first of many more wins needed in this stretch to a playoff run.

And the Yankees got the win against the Baltimore Orioles, a team that is barely ahead of them in the standings for a second wild card spot in the American League. Now they need two more wins this weekend, or a sweep of the three-game series.

The Yankees are on a mission.

They need to win as many games down a stretch of 28 that are left to play. Baltimore came into the Bronx Friday night leading New York by a game in the standings for that all important second wild card. The other teams to bypass for a wild card spot are Cleveland, Oakland and Tampa Bay all with a difference of five games.

The first place division leading Boston Red Sox come to the Bronx to play four games Thursday night. That series is ever so crucial for the slim post season chances that the Yankees face. And if there was no second wild card, there would be no talk of any series being crucial, or important as September approaches.

After an 8-5 win over the Orioles, Yankees, manager Joe Girardi said, “We feel our lineup is a lot deeper. We have to click on all cylinders. One night we can score eight runs, one night we won’t.”

On this night, the lineup did what they had to do. They hit when they had to, home runs from Alfonso Soriano and Ichiro Suzuki. They got production from Mark Reynolds at first base, three hits, and two doubles. They played small ball and each of the Yankees first seven batters reached base safely with a hit, walk, or hit by a pitch.

And then there was Sabathia. He allowed five earned runs in 5.2 innings. Not the best outing for the Yankees ace, mediocre for sure. But he got the win, and the Yankees need him down this stretch in order to keep this second half surge to continue for October baseball.   

“The first few innings he was really sharp,” commented Girardi. “He just put some balls in some good spots.” The home run to Danny Valencia in the fifth inning, plus the five runs and seven hits, was not another outing you want from your ace, even though he got the win at this juncture of the season.

His counterpart on the mound, right hander Miguel Gonzalez, like Sabathia did not allow a hit for the first three innings.

“If I can keep these guys in the game we got a chance to win,” said Sabathia. “It’s grinding it out and trying to do everything I can to help this team.” The way his season has transpired, any win, especially at this time is that much more important.   

Saturday afternoon, Ivan Nova will be on the mound. The Yankees find themselves tied with Cleveland, trailing by 4/1-2   from the second wild card spot, a half game behind Baltimore. They opened a 10-game home stand with a win and they have been winning games in the Bronx.

Yes, there is a pennant race in the Bronx and the Orioles who have lost 10 of their last 16 games are fading and like the Yankees they have the same attitude. Take it one game at a time and win as many ballgames as possible.

“It’s a tight division, a tight race,” said Nick Markakis who led off the fifth inning with a single that was followed by the Valencia home run that gave Baltimore a 3-2 lead.

He added, “Until game 162 is played everyone has a chance. There is still a lot of baseball.”  Indeed, there is a lot of baseball left. And for the Yankees, who seem to have their hitting shoes on, now it is a matter of getting their ace to throw like one.

“These guys came up with a bunch of runs,” said Sabathia. But there are not always enough runs when Sabathia is on the mound. Girardi said it is all coming together, the pitching and hitting at the same time.

Eight runs saved Sabathia this time. The next outing will be more crucial, and the way this command has been, perhaps the Yankees will need eight more runs to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Comment:  Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com  Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso

One down

Homers by Soriano and Ichiro Propel Yanks to 8-5 Victory over O’s

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, AUGUST 31-As September approaches, the battle for the second Wild Card spot in the American League becomes more dramatic. Two of the competitors, the Yanks and the Orioles, for the final slot in the post-season began a three-game series at Yankee Stadium on Friday night.

The weekend set began with the Orioles 1.5 games ahead of the Yankees. Strangely, nothing has changed between the two teams since the All-Star break as both have played .500 ball from July 19 until the start of Friday’s contest.

The early stages on Friday featured a pitching duel between the two starters, C.C. Sabathia and Miguel Gonzalez. Neither yielded a hit nor pitched to more than the requisite nine batters during the first three innings. Of Sabathia, Yankee skipper Joe Girardi remarked, “The first three innings, he was really sharp.”

Things changed rapidly soon after. The offense awakened as there were 17 hits and 12 runs put on the board during the 4th, 5th and 6th innings.

The first hit of the game off Sabathia was a double by Manny Machado with one out in the top of the fourth. A two-out single by Chris Davis knocked in the first Baltimore run.

The Yanks took the lead in the bottom of the frame as Alfonso Soriano blasted a two-run homer on the first pitch he saw, his 11th during the month of August. Girardi offered high praise for the recently reacquired outfielder, “He’s playing like an MVP. He’s been a complete player for us, stealing bases, playing good defense.”

Baltimore took back the lead in the next frame as Nick Markakis led-off with a single and then scored on a two-run home run by the next batter, Danny Valencia. Machado drove in the third run of the inning with a single. The Yankee manager was not surprised by the home run, “He’s (Valencia) swinging well against left-handed pitching.”

Gonzalez was removed from the contest before registering an out in the fifth as all six batters he faced reached base successfully. Five of the six eventually scored later in the inning.

The last four batters in the order began the damage. Curtis Granderson and then Mark Reynolds each doubled. Ichiro followed with a two-run homer to right. Austin Romine also doubled. Brett Gardner followed with a single and Derek Jeter walked to load the bases. Robinson Cano’s single knocked in the final two Yankees runs of the fifth. Girardi understated the five run inning, “We had a huge inning.”

Sabathia departed the contest with two out in the sixth, but was charged with one more run to make five earned runs for the game.

Reynolds and Ichiro each singled in the bottom of the sixth, but the Yanks did not score. Girardi commented on Reynolds, who had three hits on Friday, “He’s a guy that can carry a club.”

The final three innings reverted to the defensive efforts of the first three. Relievers Shawn Kelley, David Robertson and Mariano Rivera held the Birds scoreless with only one hit. Rivera earned his 39th save of the 2013 campaign.

One more comment can be made about the important Yankees win. Yogi Berra bobble heads were given out to the fans upon their arrival. The 88-year-old legend was present and circled the field in a golf cart prior to the game. The very decent human being and baseball great was always looked upon as bringing luck to the Yankees and Friday night was the latest example to those who believe.

Saturday’s matinee will feature Scott Feldman (4-3) and Ivan Nova (7-4) in the starting roles.

Bronx News Sports: Monroe 's Backs Roll Over Wagner in Opener, 28-0T...

Bronx News Sports: Monroe 's Backs Roll Over Wagner in Opener, 28-0
T...: Monroe 's Backs Roll Over Wagner in Opener, 28-0 Two freshman, Goliday and Thomas power the Mustangs By Gary Axlebank B...

Monroe 's Backs Roll Over Wagner in Opener, 28-0

Two freshman, Goliday and Thomas power the Mustangs

By Gary Axlebank

BRONX, NEW YORK, AUGUST 30- On the game's final scrimmage play, a spectacular 99-yard TD interception return by freshman cornerback Jarell Hicks (Newark, NJ) put the exclamation point on a convincing 28-0 Monroe Mustangs season-opening victory over Wagner (JV) at the Seahawks' Hameline Field on Staten Island on Thursday afternoon.  

But it was a pair of Mustang freshmen running backs who stole the show. Derrick Goliday (Akron, OH) scored two rushing TD's and Donald Thomas (Bronx, NY) had one, as well as the game's longest rush from scrimmage, a 46-yard jaunt down the sideline in the third quarter, to power the Mustangs.

"In the beginning, I was concerned about the fatigue of a hard training camp," head coach Terry Karg said after the game, "and I thought we showed that at the start. But the more we got into it, we really got our wheels rolling."

Starting quarterback Michael Campbell (Bloomfield, CT) drove the Mustangs to their first score on their first possession, clicking on two clutch third-down plays along the way.

On the drive's seventh play, he handed it to Goliday who blasted up the middle for a nine-yard, second-effort TD run that gave the Mustangs their first score in their second season of football.

In the second half, as he said he would, Coach Karg put freshman Clayton Turner (Marietta, GA) under center and at 6:53 in the third quarter he handed to Thomas who ran four yards for the first TD of his college career. Thomas played his HS ball at Cardinal Hayes in the Bronx.

"I thought Derrick (Goliday) set the tempo early, and Donald (Thomas) took off from what he started," Coach Karg said.

As the quarter ended, Goliday put the finishing touches on a five-play 67-yard drive with an eight-yard TD run. That score was set up by Thomas' 46-yard dash.

Thomas finished with 109 yards on 10 carries to lead Monroe and Goliday netted 77 yards on eleven carries.

As the clock wound down with Monroe leading 21-0, it looked like the Seahawks would break up the shutout. But on a fourth and goal with just 22-seconds remaining and the ball on Monroe's six, Hicks stepped in front of the Wagner receiver and grabbed the interception. And as the Mustangs hooped and hollered on their bench, he raced 99-yards for the icing on Monroe's cake. 

"You always want to win that first one," Karg said.  It's a reward for all the hard you've done to get here and puts a good taste in your mouth in preparation for what's to come."

Next Saturday night at 7:30pm, the Mustangs will open their home season against Dean College at SUNY Purchase. Admission is free.

Bronx News Sports: Fordham Rolls Over Rams

Bronx News Sports: Fordham Rolls Over Rams: Fordham Rolls Over Rams College Football Kicks Off in the Bronx By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, AUGUST 30- The earliest seas...

Fordham Rolls Over Rams

Fordham Rolls Over Rams

College Football Kicks Off in the Bronx

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, AUGUST 30- The earliest season football opening game since intercollegiate football began at Fordham in 1882 took place on Thursday night at Jack Coffey Field on Fordham’s Bronx campus. The Rams of Fordham welcomed the Rams of Rhode Island for the 12th meeting of a rivalry that started 101 years ago.

The two young squads appear to be moving in opposite directions. URI entered the contest with a 13-game losing streak while the Rams in 2012 made the second greatest improvement in NCAA football mobbing from a 1-10 mark in 2011 to a winning, 6-5, record in 2012 under first year head coach Joe Moorhead.

The stronger offensive performances that have come under the coaching of its star quarterback of the 1990’s were still in effect during the inaugural game of the 2013 season. For the second straight season Fordham scored more than 50 points in its opening game. The most recent contest before the two openers in which the Fordham Rams totaled more than 50 points was on September 6, 2003, also against Rhode Island.

Fordham’s quarterback Mike Nebrich began the scoring attack with a 29-yard touchdown pass to Sam Ajala at 10:08 in the first quarter. The two juniors connected again in the final quarter for a 64 yard touchdown. The two TD passes caught by Ajala equaled the output of his previous two seasons at Fordham.

Less than two minutes after his touchdown pass of the game, (8:14), the fleet Fordham quarterback rushed 32 yards for the second Rams touchdown. The extra points kicked by Brooklyn native Michael Marando gave Fordham a 14-0 advantage that was never overcome.

Nebrich also found last season’s First Team All-Patriot League wide receiver Brian Wetzel for two touchdown receptions. They combined for a 4-yard touchdown in the second period and for a 49 yard touchdown in the third quarter.

The inexperienced signal caller for Fordham showed his capabilities as he connected on 17 of 25 passes for 267 yards. He threw for four touchdowns without an interception.

Nebrich only played three games in 2012, after transferring from the University of Connecticut, before suffering an injury that ended his season.

Fordham sophomore JQ Bowers intercepted a pass of URI quarterback Bob Bentsen and carried it for a touchdown in the third quarter.

A freshman, Kendall Pearcey, scored the final points of the contest on a 16-yard run with 1:27 on the clock. Interestingly, the Bronx college student-athlete graduated from Steinbrenner High School in Lutz, Florida.

After the contest concluded, the team gathered in jubilation to ring the Victory Bell and sing the Fordham Fight Song. These two traditional activities take place on campus after every Fordham football win.

Fordham will remain in the Bronx to prepare for its next opponent, Villanova. The two will compete at the Rose Hill campus on Saturday, September 7, at 6 pm.

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Yanks Sweep Four Game Set over Blue Jays

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Yanks Sweep Four Game Set over Blue Jays: Yanks Sweep Four Game Set over Blue Jays By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, AUGUST 23- The Yankees continued their concerted effort to re...

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Yankees realizing they are in a race

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Yankees realizing they are in a race: Now on to Tampa By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, AUGUST 23- There is no telling where this remaining month of August and the September ...

Bronx News Sports: Yanks Sweep Four Game Set over Blue Jays

Bronx News Sports: Yanks Sweep Four Game Set over Blue Jays: By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, AUGUST 23- The Yankees continued their concerted effort to reach the 2013 American League playoffs with...

Bronx News Sports: Yankees realizing they are in a race

Bronx News Sports: Yankees realizing they are in a race: Now on to Tampa By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, AUGUST 23- There is no telling where this remaining month of August and the September ...

Yankees realizing they are in a race

Now on to Tampa

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, AUGUST 23- There is no telling where this remaining month of August and the September stretch will take the New York Yankees. We do know this: The Yankees with their fifth straight win Thursday afternoon, 10th in their last 12 overall, are in good position for a wild card spot in the American League.

And, there is still an outside chance of contending for the Al East division as New York heads for an important three-game series down in Tampa Bay. The Yankees left the Bronx, after their 5-3 win and four-game sweep of the Blue Jays, 3/1-2 games off the pace for the second wild card spot in the league.

Six games away from the division lead, does not look bad either. Compare this to the standings of two weeks ago when it seemed improbable. There were those ready to pack their bags for the winter and the Yankees were preparing to make plans for their off-season moves.

Many moves on this roster will still be made, regardless what the final results will say at the end of September. But for now, with a schedule also in their favor, the Yankees believe they are in the playoff mix. After three down in Tampa Bay, it’s three games up in Toronto.

It is the same Blue Jays team the Yankees swept this week, a ballclub that has lost to New York ten consecutive games. Yes, they can make up more ground in the standings and it is entirely possible when they return to the Bronx, August 30th with three games against Baltimore, they could be closer.

“We’re making up ground and that’s what we need to do,” said Yankees manager Joe Girardi after his team improved to 7-1 in their last eight games against American League East competition. The Baltimore Orioles, a team that used to win those one-run ballgames last season quickly see the Yankees moving on up.

Girardi has seen the difference. His team is getting good pitching and the home run ball has returned. Andy Pettitte held the Blue Jays to an earned run in 6.0 innings, on four hits. He won his second straight game after going 0-3 in five previous starts.

Curtis Granderson tied the game with a solo home run leading off the fifth inning, his first off a left hander this season.

“We’re right there,” said Pettitte (9-9) who had the cutter and fastball working again to his advantage. “We play good baseball the rest of the way we’re gonna pull this thing out.”

Girardi said, he has seen a different vibe with his team. Of course, winning will change the complexion of any team, in any sport. With the exception of a few additions, and return of the few walking wounded, the controversial Alex Rodriguez in particular, this is the same group of Yankees that had trouble hitting and pitching half way through the schedule.

“Seems like you can look up and down the lineup and that’s a different feel,” he said. Pettitte could not hold runners on, and the lineup had trouble getting runners home. That has all changed.

Pettitte has now held his opponent to no more than one earned run in each of his last three starts.

“Andy got a lot of ground balls,” commented Girardi.

The Yankees are fully aware now, as to how important their schedule is. A month or so ago, they still believed there was a chance at playing October baseball. But the reality was, they needed to pick up plenty of ground in the standings.

They have done that and will need to continue this run by winning as many series as possible in their remaining 35 games. The next nine-games and 26 of them are against Al east division teams. And the next three games down in Tampa Bay, against their tough pitching staff are important.

“Big, because they are ahead of us in the standings,” said catcher Chris Stewart.

Comment Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso

Yanks Sweep Four Game Set over Blue Jays

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, AUGUST 23- The Yankees continued their concerted effort to reach the 2013 American League playoffs with a 5-3 victory over the Blue Jays on Thursday afternoon.

The win was their fifth straight and 10th in the last 12 contests. The four game sweep of Toronto was the fourth consecutive series win for New York.

After the game, Yankee skipper Joe Girardi spoke of the forward movement of the team, “We’re making up ground and that’s what we need to do. That makes it [reaching the post-season] attainable. There’s a different vibe [on the club] because we’re winning.”

A light rain caused an interminable delay of three hours and 32 minutes before the game began. The announced crowd of 40,116, most of whom left early or never came to the ballpark, were given the opportunity to exchange their tickets for a grandstand or terrace seat to a game with the Chicago White Sox on September 2, 3 or 4.

Each of the starting pitchers, Andy Pettitte and J.A. Happ, did not yield a run, gave up only one hit and one walk during the first four frames.

The scoreless duel ended in the fifth when J.P. Arencibia, on a 0-1 pitch, led off the inning by lifting the ball into the stands in left for his 19th home run of the campaign.
For the eighth time in their 12 victories over the Blue Jays, the Yanks came from behind to earn the victory.

A lead-off homer by Curtis Granderson in the bottom of the same inning tied the score at 1-1.

Later in the inning, a fly ball to center by Vernon Wells was inexplicably ruled a fielder’s choice rather than a hit or an error led to the second Yankees’ run. Toronto manager John Gibbons and Toronto pitcher Mark Buehrle were ejected from the game after arguing that the ball was caught.

The bottom Yankee batting order led to three tallies in the sixth. Three walks were followed by a two-run single by Eduardo Nuñez and an RBI ground-out by catcher Chris Stewart.

Pettitte recorded his second straight win. He pitched six innings while surrendering only one run and four hits. Girardi commended his performance, “He pitched very well. I thought his fast ball and cutter were good today. Andy got a lot of ground balls.”

The Blue Jays scored two runs in the seventh, but it was not enough to prevent them from losing their ninth of the last 12 games.

The Yanks now leave for a six game trip against American League East rivals, Tampa (3 games) and Toronto (3 games).Hiroki Kroda, C.C. Sabathia, and Ivan Nova are scheduled to be the starters in Tampa on the weekend.

Mr. 4,000

Ichiro Suzuki Becomes the 4,000 Hit Man

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, AUGUST 22- Ichiro Suzuki reached a baseball milestone that has been accomplished by only two men in baseball history, Pete Rose and Ty Cobb.

Suzuki’s single to left field in the first inning of Wednesday night’s encounter between the Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays was his 4,000th hit in professional baseball.
As was done more than a half-century ago when Roger Maris hit his 61st home run in a single season, some baseball observers will try to demean the outstanding and rare accomplishment by saying 1,278 of the 4,000 hits were achieved in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) and should not be added to his Major League Baseball (MLB) totals.

Suzuki’s ability and his achievements on the baseball field in Japan and the United States should earn him enshrinement in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown as soon as he is eligible.

Although Ichiro will not be 40 until October, his long baseball journey started as a young boy under the strict direction of his father. His decision to pursue professional baseball as his calling began before he reached his teenage years. He excelled in Little League baseball and on his high school team.

His statistics, thus far, in each nation and collectively in both are superlative and show his superiority as a player regardless of the competition.

His batting average as a member of the Orix Blue Wave for nine seasons was .355. From his first full season, 1994, through his last year in Japanese pro ball, 2000, Ichiro, in all seven seasons, was a NPB All-Star, a Pacific League (PL) batting champion, a winner of the Best Nine Award, and a Golden Glove recipient. He was also the PL MVP in the first three of those magnificentseasons.

Neither the cultural change nor the level of the play in the major leagues prevented the first position player from Japan from excelling in MLB as he had in Japan. In his first year with the Seattle Mariners (2001), he was elected Rookie-of-the-Year and MVP of the American League.

In each of his first 10 seasons in MLB, Ichiro was a Gold Glove winner and a member of the A.L. All-Star Team.

His extreme versatility on the baseball field has been displayed by watching him every day and by the numerous and varied awards he earned, batting champion, stolen base leader, Silver Slugger Award winner and, of course, 17 consecutive years, in both nations, of the Gold(en) Glove as recognition of his defensive superiority as an outfielder.

Ichiro in a post-game press conference expressed the importance to him of being an all-around expert ballplayer, “As an amateur, I thought you had to be good in everything to be a professional. Then I found out that wasn’t true. I’ve always taken pride in all the things that happen in baseball. I work very hard. I want to be able to do all the things at a high level.”

Not only has Ichiro excelled in Japan and the United States, but he led the National Team from Japan to the Gold Medal in the first two sessions of the World Baseball Classic (WBC), 2006 and 2009.

After Ichiro reached first base on Wednesday, all the Yankees players left their dugout and came onto the field to congratulate their great teammate on his rare accomplishment. The fans in the stands rose to cheer him. His countryman, Munenori Kawasaki, the Toronto third baseman was also applauding while standing at his infield position.

Ichiro, who always conducts himself as a serious professional, was more impressed by the supportive reaction of others than his own achievement, “I thought this number was just special to me. I wasn’t expecting what happened today, so much joy and happiness from them [teammates and fans]. I was really overwhelmed. The game was stopped for me. I was so happy and overjoyed with how they supported me. When I look back on this, what makes it important is that my teammates came out.”
Now that he has 2,722 hits in the majors, Ichiro was asked if his goal was to reach 3,000 hits. His response exhibits his professional mindset, “I can’t have that as a goal. What happens today determines what happens tomorrow.”

The consummate professional intends to prepare to do his best every day. One who is fortunate to watch him once or on a regular basis is seeing one of the all-time best players who brings credit upon the sport.

Without A-Rod Drama Yanks Look Like They Have a Shot

Yankees keep rolling with win over Blue Jays

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, AUGUST 22- There was no Alex Rodriguez drama at Yankee Stadium Wednesday night. He had the night off and requested a ceasefire with his attorney regarding impending lawsuits against the Yankees. Instead the attention was the 4,000 career hit for Ichiro Suzuki, and the Yankees ninth win in their last 11-games as they took the third of four games over Toronto 4-2.

Suddenly the Yankees are in the thick of the American League wild card race, and have inched closer to the Al east division leaders Boston and Tampa Bay. The win put New York four games away from the second wild card spot.

For the second time this season, the Yankees defeated 2012 NL CY Young Award winner R.A. Dickey, who won the award when he pitched for the cross-town NY Mets. Dickey tossed a complete game, 8.0 innings, gave up four runs, six hits and recorded nine strikeouts.

The big blow off Dickey was a two-run home run off the bat of Alfonso Soriano. With one on and two out, Soriano reached for a Dickey knuckleball that landed in the left field stands. It broke a 0-for-17 snap for Soriano and was the 29th long ball given up by Dickey.

The Yankees have now hit a home run 25 times in their last 22 games dating back to July 28th, this after being held homerless in nine straight games from July 19-27.

“Our club is focused on winning,” said Yankees manager Joe Girardi. His team has secured their fourth straight series win, with the finale of the four-game series with he Blue Jays Thursday afternoon.

“I lacked a good knuckleball and Soriano hit one,” said Dickey, 9-12, who threw his 11th career complete game and second this season. He dropped to 3-3 with a 3.44 ERA in 12 career games, six starts against New York.

Commented Soriano, “I just tried to swing one and finally got one to hit,” about hitting the tough knuckleball.

Dickey admitted that this has been a season of struggle, something he never expected coming off the Cy Young Award season. The Mets traded him in the off season to Toronto in a package that also sent catcher Josh Thole to the Blue Jays.

Thole hit his first home run of the season in the fourth inning, his first since last April 29th when the Mets played Colorado.

“Dickey was throwing great, four hits going into that last inning and really just that one big shot,” said Toronto manager John Gibbons about the home run ball Dickey surrendered to Soriano. It was the ninth home run for Soriano as a Yankee since coming over in a trade from the Chicago Cubs on July 26th.

The win was costly for the Yankees as Jayson Nix, starting at third for Rodriguez, was hit by a pitch in the second inning and was removed for a pinch runner. Nix underwent x-rays which revealed a fractured right hand. It was another serious blow for a team that has overcome the adversity of the injured this season.

Nix will be disabled and undetermined how long he will be inactive. It is his second time on the DL this season and 19th player in 24 stints for the Yankees to go down with an injury this season.

“Feel bad about Nix,” said Girardi. “In the absence of “Jeets” (Derek Jeter) and “Nuney” (Eduardo Nunez) going down, he’s a guy who makes good decisions and makes things right.”

As for Ichiro, it was a night of celebration. The 4,000th hit, combined 2,722 in the Major Leagues and 1,278 in Japan, was a single to left off Dickey in the first inning. Ichiro was congratulated by his Yankees teammates who came out of the dugout and greeted him by the first base line.

“They did not have to stop the game for me,” said the mild mannered Ichiro who had a separate press conference of about an hour with a contingent of media from Japan, downstairs in the Yankees press conference room area.

Dickey said about the historic hit to Ichiro, “You never want to be a guy to give up a milestone. That being said what an achievement. It could not have happened to a better player.”

“It’s special to him, to his family to his country,” said Girardi about the hit. And for the Yankees, more special because Ichiro has become a part of this resurgence and winning formula that has his Yankees aiming for a spot to play in October.

Comment Rich Mancuso: ring786@aol.com facebook.com/Rich Mancuso

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Yanks Win Day/Night Doubleheader over Blue Jays

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Yanks Win Day/Night Doubleheader over Blue Jays: By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, AUGUST 21- In the day portion of the day/night doubleheader with the Blue Jays on Tuesday, New York over...

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Despite A-Rod Circus Yankees seem like a Playoff T...

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Despite A-Rod Circus Yankees seem like a Playoff T...: A-Bum Strikes Out 5 Times, Grounds into Double Play, Yanks Still Win By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, AUGUST 21- Maybe it took the retu...

Bronx News Sports: Yanks Win Day/Night Doubleheader over Blue Jays

Bronx News Sports: Yanks Win Day/Night Doubleheader over Blue Jays: By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, AUGUST 21- In the day portion of the day/night doubleheader with the Blue Jays on Tuesday, New York over...

Bronx News Sports: Despite A-Rod Circus Yankees seem like a Playoff T...

Bronx News Sports: Despite A-Rod Circus Yankees seem like a Playoff T...: A-Bum Strikes Out 5 Times, Grounds into Double Play, Yanks Still Win By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, AUGUST 21- Maybe it took the retu...

Despite A-Rod Circus Yankees seem like a Playoff Team

A-Bum Strikes Out 5 Times, Grounds into Double Play,
Yanks Still Win

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, AUGUST 21- Maybe it took the return of Alex Rodriguez in order for the New York Yankees to make their season more interesting. With or without the A-Rod controversy, manager Joe Giaradi had said it would take 35 wins after the all-star break for his team to be eligible for October baseball.

No matter how one feels about the player known as A-Fraud, Rodriguez enhances the Yankees lineup. Robinson Cano can vouch for that. In the first game of the Tuesday day-night twin-bill sweep over the Blue Jays, Cano went 4-for4 and hit his 200th career home run.

In the night game, another win in walk-off fashion, the Yankees sixth of the season, Cano went 2-for-4 and has hit safely in 14 of his last 15 games. In that span, he is hitting .456 with eight runs, five doubles, two home runs and 11 runs batted in.

Yes, like him or not, A-Rod does make a difference despite striking out five times and hitting into a double-play in the second game Tuesday night.

“You can see it’s a different lineup when you have Alfonso, Curtis, you have Alex,” commented Cano about the return of A-Rod, Curtis Granderson and the addition of Alfonso Soriano.

Despite all the controversy with A-Rod, and the fireworks from Friday night up in Boston, Girardi never gave up. He always said when his team came back to full strength they would get back in it.

Again, Alex Rodriguez has not been a distraction. Despite the lawsuits, an appeal process of a 211-game suspension, and the hierarchy not talking to their troubled player, the Yankees say A-Rod has been a vital addition and now every game is a run to keep playing in October.

“We’re a different team offensively,” Girardi said after the Yankees won their eighth game in their last 10 overall. Two more with Toronto on this brief home stand and then the battle continues with three down in Tampa Bay, a team in a battle with the Red Sox for the AL east division lead.

With Robinson Cano hitting his 200th career home run and right hander Ivan Nova allowing four runs in 6.1 innings, New York came home to the Bronx and defeated Toronto 8-4, in the first game of a day-night doubleheader.

Not like they were in April, May, June, and some of July, they overcame a four-run deficit for the first time this season. Right hander Phil Hughes (4-12) took the mound for the second game. He had better command with the changeup, the fastball had location, and he did not allow a home run at Yankee Stadium since June 19th.

And, Hughes also said, the offense helped. Alex Rodriguez is not a distraction. “He makes us a better team,” said Hughes about his controversial teammate.

Earlier as Nova (7-4) and the Yankees took the field for the first game, Major League Baseball announced Joe Girardi had been fined an undisclosed amount for his actions Friday night at Fenway Park. Later it was reported the fine was $5,000.

Girardi was ejected from that game in the second inning after arguing with plate umpire Brian O’Nora after Boston pitcher Ryan Dempster threw three pitches at Rodriguez, the last of the three that hit him and made things appear worse for A-Rod and the Yankees.

Dempster was also fined and suspended five games for his actions. Girardi wants this to end, and the frustration is unfolding. Because Girardi is only concerned about one thing, that is winning ballgames and the Yankees seem to be doing that more the past few weeks.

“I don’t really have any comment,” said Girardi about the suspension of Dempster. “Think I made my feelings pretty clear then,” he said. Girardi seemed annoyed about the questions being asked about Dempster, feeling he offered enough about the situation that happened Friday night.

Though Girardi said, a suspension for intentionally throwing at a position player does not always make sense as it related to five games, because Dempster will probably not miss a turn in the rotation.

As for winning another game, he said, “Win the game that is at hand. The guys went out and did that today and came from behind and got some big hits and that’s what we have to concentrate on.”

Ichiro Suzuki went 2-for-5 with a double in the third inning and a single in the seventh. He is one hit shy of career ht 4,000, 1,278 of those hits came as a player in Japan. That was supposed to be another storyline, but A-Rod was the center of attention.

Suzuki did not start the second game. He pinch ran in the ninth for Mark Reynolds who walked. He advanced on a bunt, stole third and came home with the winning run on the first walk-off RBI hit from Jayson Nix.

In the end, winning ballgames is what it all about. A-Rod was not available for the media all day. He never is when not contributing, but has to have his forum when the timing is right.

With 37 games remaining, the Yankees are getting the timely hit, and overall, good starting pitching. The bullpen has been better and the home run trot is getting better for more than one.

“It’s fun in here again,” commented catcher Austin Romine who tied his career high, 3-for-3 in the second game. He too, has been a part of this resurgence that has the Yankees back in the wild card hunt and closing in for that second spot.

But they have to keep winning, and taking series in this stretch run for October. “That’s baseball, anything can happen. It’s not over till it’s over,” said Romine.

We heard that before, of course from the Yankees of years past and there was no A-Rod controversy then.

Comment Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com/ Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso

Yanks Win Day/Night Doubleheader over Blue Jays

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, AUGUST 21- In the day portion of the day/night doubleheader with the Blue Jays on Tuesday, New York overcame a 4-0 deficit by scoring eight unanswered runs to win, 8-4. The hero was second sacker Robinson Cano who hit safely in all four at bats, driving in four runs.

Ichiro Suzuki raised his professional career hit total to, 3,999 with two hits in the opener.

The night contest was much more of a pitching duel, but ended in a similar fashion as the first game, with the Yankees coming from behind to achieve the victory.

Neither starter, Phil Hughes nor Mark Buehrle, has been highly successful at Yankee Stadium this season. In two starts in the Bronx this year, Buehrle has yielded 10 runs in only 11 frames. The career mark of the veteran hurler is 183-139, but against the Yanks he is 1-10 with an ERA of 6.28 in 16 starts. His team has defeated the Yanks only once in those 16 starts.

Hughes is 1-9 at home with an ERA of 6.03. Of the 23 home runs he has surrendered, 17 were hit at Yankee Stadium.

Both pitched into the seventh and neither even remotely resembled the ineffective pitcher he was earlier in the season in the Bronx.

Buehrle gave up two runs and six hits in 6.2 innings. He departed after Jayson Nix blasted a solo home run on the first pitch he saw in the seventh. The homer raised the batting average of Nix against the veteran left-hander to .426.

Hughes faced one batter in the seventh and left the game having yielded two runs and seven hits, but none of the hits were four baggers. Yankee skipper Joe Girardi was pleased with the starter’s performance, “His fastball was down better today. I thought he stayed off the barrel of the bat today. We need him to continue making progress.”

Although he did not get the win, his team did. Thus, Hughes was happy, “It all starts with the fastball. It’s something to build off.”

The game was tied at 2-2 entering the bottom of the ninth. Mark Reynolds in his fourth game in Yankee pinstripes led off the inning by drawing a walk. Suzuki pinch ran for Reynolds. Eduardo Nuñez sacrificed Suzuki to second. The veteran great then stole third. The Yanks obtained their sixth walk-off win of the 2013 campaign as Nix singled in the winning run.

Of that successful rally, Girardi commented, “It was a good effort by all those guys.”
The Yanks have won 8 of their last 10 contests in a quest to qualify for the 2013 post-season.

The starters on Wednesday night are scheduled to be R.A. Dickey (9-11) for Toronto and Adam Warren (1-2) who will be making his second start in the majors, his first in 2013.

Bronx News Sports: Yanks Bash Birds in Game 1

Bronx News Sports: Yanks Bash Birds in Game 1: Girardi Fined for Flare Up By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, AUGUST 20- With Robinson Cano hitting his 200 th career home run and...

Yanks Bash Birds in Game 1

Girardi Fined for Flare Up

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, AUGUST 20- With Robinson Cano hitting his 200^th career home run and right hander Ivan Nova allowing four runs in 6.1 innings, the New York Yankees came home to the Bronx Tuesday afternoon and defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 8-4 in the first game of a day-night doubleheader.

New York won for the seventh time in their last nine games and overcame a four-run deficit for the first time this season. Right hander Phil Hughes (4-12) will take the mound for the second game and try and get the Yankees a sweep of the twin-bill.

Earlier as Nova (7-4) and the Yankees took the field for the first game, Major League Baseball announced that Yankees manager Joe Girardi had been fined an undisclosed amount of money stemming from his tirade Friday night up in Boston.

Girardi was ejected from that game in the second inning after arguing with plate umpire Brian O’Nora after Boston pitcher Ryan Dempster threw three pitches at the Yankees Alex Rodriguez, the last of the three that hit the controversial Yankees third baseman.

Dempster was also fined and suspended five games for his actions.

“I don’t really have any comment,” said Girardi about the suspension of Dempster. “Think I made my feelings pretty clear then,” he said. Girardi seemed annoyed about the questions being asked about Dempster, feeling he offered enough about the situation that happened Friday night.

Though Girardi said, a suspension for intentionally throwing at a position player does not always make sense as it related to five games. He also seemed surprised that he was fined, though that was expected.

As for winning another game, he said, “Win the game that is at hand. The guys went out and did that today and came from behind and got some big hits and that’s what we have to concentrate on.”

Ichiro Suzuki went 2-for-5 with a double in the third inning and a single in the seventh. He is one hit shy of career hit 4,000, 1,278 of those hits came as a player in Japan.