Oakland Shuts Out Yanks, 2-0

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, May 4- The Yanks were prevented from scoring a run in the first game of a three-game set with the Oakland Athletics on Friday night at Yankee Stadium. Although C.C. Sabathia and reliever Adam Warren pitched well, the absence of Yankee hitting resulted in a 2-0 loss.

The outcome of the game was determined by the first pitch of the contest, which was delivered by C.C, Sabathia at 7:08. Oakland’s shortstop Adam Rosales drove the ball into the stands in left for his first home run of the season.

The second and final run of the game was scored by the A’s off Sabathia in the sixth after he surrendered three hits that culminated in a single by Derek Norris that drove in the run.
A.J. Griffin broke his two game losing streak by hurling his fifth career scoreless start. Griffin scattered six hits, walked one and fanned four in 6+ innings. He was removed in the seventh after lead-off batter Brett Gardner beat out an infield single.

Yankees skipper Joe Girardi commented on the opposing starter, “He was tough on our hitters. He kept the ball away from the middle of the plate.”

Reliever Sean Doolittle kept the Yanks scoreless in 2.2 innings. This was the 11th of his last 13 appearances in which he has not allowed a run. Closer Grant Balfour struck out Eduardo Nuñez, the final batter of the game to record his fourth save in four opportunities in 2013. He has been successful in converting his last 22 save opportunities. Balfour’s last blown save occurred more than one year ago, April 29, 2012.

Sabathia threw the most pitches, 117, in a single game this season, but lasted more innings in every previous outing but one this year. The Yankees starting pitcher gave credit to the Oakland batters, “I felt like I had good stuff [but] they did a really good job of fouling off pitches.”

Yankees reliever Adam Warren held the Athletics scoreless in three innings. Girardi praised the newcomer, “[Warren] did a great job and gave us an opportunity to win the game. We just didn’t put any runs across.”

In the second game of the series on Saturday afternoon, Phil Hughes (0-2) will start for the Yanks against veteran Bártolo Colón (3-0).

Bronx News Sports: Yanks Edge Astros, 5-4

Bronx News Sports: Yanks Edge Astros, 5-4: By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, May 2- Astute base running by Lyle Overbay in the sixth inning led to a 5-4 victory by the Yankees o...

Yanks Edge Astros, 5-4

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, May 2- Astute base running by Lyle Overbay in the sixth inning led to a 5-4 victory by the Yankees on Wednesday night. The win gave the Yankees the three-game series win over the new American League entry, the Houston Astros. The victory was the sixth for the New Yorkers in their last seven contests.

Both starting pitchers, David Phelps of the Yanks and Eric Bedard gave up four earned runs in their relatively brief stints on the mound. Neither pitcher was involved in the decision.

The Astros were held scoreless in eight of the nine frames. They erupted for four tallies in the fourth inning. Four hits and two hit batsmen accounted for Houston’s run output.

The Yanks scored their runs in four separate installments. Ichiro Suzuki led off the first with a triple. He scored the first run of the contest after Jayson Nix singled to left.

In the second, three bases on balls followed by a sacrifice fly by catcher Chris Stewart scored the second Yankees run.

Two four baggers by the Yankees in the third gave New York a 4-0 advantage. Robinson Cano led off the inning with a solo homer to right. The long ball was his 185^th, tying him with Paul O’Neill for 17^th place on the Yankees. The run batted in was his 733^rd as a Yankee, giving him 20^th place in the history of the club.

With two out in the same inning, Ben Francisco’s home run was his first homer and first run batted in as a Yankee. Manager Joe Girardi said, “A walk and a home run. I hope that sets him off.”

The deciding run of the game came in the bottom of the sixth. With one out and men on first and second, Ichiro hit an infield ground ball. Although it resulted in a double play, Eduardo Nunez scored thanks to wise base running by Lyle Overbay. His intelligence in delaying the rundown allowed the winning run to score.

After the contest concluded, Girardi commented on Overbay’s performance, “It takes a heads-up player, very smart. I give Lyle a lot of credit.”

Yankee relievers Boone Logan, David Robertson and Mariano Rivera pitched 3.1 scoreless innings. Rivera earned his 11^th save of the season in 11 opportunities. His raised his MLB career mark to 619 saves.

Infielder Chris Nelson was acquired by the Yanks from Colorado in exchange for cash or a player to be named later.

On Friday, Oakland will come to the Bronx for a three game weekend series. CC Sabathia (4-2) will start for the Yanks on Friday versus A.J.Griffin (2-2) for Oakland.

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Bronx News Sports: Mount Beats St. Rays

Bronx News Sports: Mount Beats St. Rays: By Gary Quintal BRONX, NEW YORK, May 1- Mount Saint Michael Academy beat visiting Saint Raymond’s High School 5-3 Tuesday aft...

Mount Beats St. Rays

By Gary Quintal

BRONX, NEW YORK, May 1- Mount Saint Michael Academy beat visiting Saint Raymond’s High School 5-3 Tuesday afternoon.  

Leading 4-2 in the sixth, Mount added to its lead when Saint Ray’s pitcher fielded a sacrifice bunt but made an errant throw, allowing the runner already moving from second to third advance home.   

Saint Ray’s would score a run in the top of the seventh, but with a runner on third left the tying run at the plate. 

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Bronx News Sports: Yuke Down

Bronx News Sports: Yuke Down: Yankees put Youkilis on disabled list and beat Astros By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, May 1- Earlier in the day, Kevin Youkilis became...

Yuke Down

Yankees put Youkilis on disabled list and beat Astros

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, May 1- Earlier in the day, Kevin Youkilis became the latest casualty to be placed on a never ending New York Yankees disabled list. The injury toll grows, but the wins keep coming, the latest Tuesday night in the Bronx as New York defeated the Houston Astros 7-4.

Youkilis, signed to a one-year contract, filling a void at third base for the disabled Alex Rodriguez, was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a lumbar spine strain. He has been experiencing lower back pain the past week and sat out the weekend four-game Yankees series sweep over Toronto.

After banging out 17-hits against Yankees pitching in their opening series game win Monday night at Yankee Stadium, Houston had opportunities against starter Hiroki Kuroda (4-1). But, the young Astros struck out 12-times and left numerous runners on base.

Despite struggling early, Kuroda won his team-high fourth game of the season. The slider and off speed pitch were on target after throwing 67 pitches and putting a runner on in the first three innings, recording shutout ball for seven innings and eight of the strikeouts.

“You have to be pretty good to stick around to make it through those first three innings and then be good enough to give your team seven innings,” said manager Joe Girardi about his starter  

The Yankees, after a 1-4 start, finished the month of April, 16-10. Girardi is more than pleased, especially with the veteran players that have stepped up to the plate.

“The offense has been spread around,” commented Girardi. “I am pleased the way these guys have been playing. They have done a very good job for us. It hasn’t always been pretty but our guys have come up with clutch hits when we needed them,”

One in particular is Travis Hafner. He stepped up big again in the cleanup spot, 3-for-4, and has driven in at least one run in eight of the Yankees’ nine series this season. Hafner drove in the final run in a three-run eighth.

Girardi said about Hafner, “You just see that his approach is good. He’s been great in that four-hole for us. With all the people we have out, he’s done a really good job in our lineup.”

And Lyle Overbay, getting the regular start at first, got the lone Yankees home run of the game. His fourth opened the eighth inning scoring.  David Robertson and Shawn Kelley came out of the pen and Houston combined to score four runs in the last two innings. The big blow was a two run homer from Chris Carter off Robertson in the eighth.

The sparse crowd remaining from the 34,301, chanted “We want Mo,” and Mariano Rivera got the final out and recorded his 10^th save in as many chances.   

The Astros, a young team in their inaugural year in the American League, and with the lowest payroll in the game, saw starter and loser Philip Humber (0-6) allow four runs in six innings. He entered the game having given up 18 hits and 15 runs over his last two starts.

“I’m a little bit frustrated but it’s a part of the game,” said Humber who was removed after trailing 4-0, giving up nine hits and walking two.     

However, with the exception of injuries there is no reason for Girardi and his Yankees to be frustrated. They ended April better than expected, second to the Boston Red Sox in the American League East, and hope to begin the month of May taking another series with a win over the Astros Wednesday evening.

E-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com

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