Yanks Blast Sox Off

Yanks Blast Sox Off

Homers Give Yankees a 7-4 Victory over the Red Sox

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK APRIL 13- In a reversal of the circumstances of the previous night’s contest at Yankee Stadium, five Yankee four baggers drove in each of their seven runs and ensured them a Saturday matinee victory over the Boston Red Sox.

The good feeling of sitting under blue skies and mild temperatures in the 60’s was increased for the Yankee rooters in the ballpark by the success at the plate of the Yankee batters. The combination provided a pleasant Saturday afternoon outing for the 48.572 fans in the Stadium, the largest crowd of the season.

In the first frame, a two-out single by the hot hitting former star of the Red Sox, Jacoby Ellsbury, was followed by Carlos Beltran’s second home run of the 2014 campaign, which gave New York a two run lead.

A lead-off base hit by Xander Bogarts in the second led to a tied score of two as the next batter, AJ Pierzynski blasted the first pitch into the seats in right to drive in two runs.

Two innings later, Brian McCann and Alfonso Soriano connected for back-to-back homers to give New York a 4-2 advantage. The Yankees had last hit homers back-to-back on June 6, 2013 in Seattle.

Two additional Yankee runners crossed the plate in the bottom of the sixth. McCann with his second home run of the game also drove in Beltran, who had doubled to begin the inning. This was McCann’s tenth multi-homer game in his career in the majors. It was the first Yankee multi-home run game since Soriano blasted two round trippers on September 10, 2013.

Despite entering the contest with a batting average of .162, the Yankee skipper was not surprised by McCann’s home runs, “I know he’s going to hit; he’s too good a hitter not to hit.”

Yankee starter Hiroki Kuroda was removed from the game after 6.1 innings after walking two batters in the seventh. A hit batsman and a single by Mike Carp off reliever Matt Thornton allowed the last two baserunners of Kuroda’s outing to score.

Kuroda gave up six hits and four earned runs in his 6.1 inning performance. He earned his second win of the young season, but was critical of his pitching, “Overall, I wasn’t sharp. My command and precise control wasn’t there.”

Kelly Johnson began the eighth frame with a crushing blow that landed in the center field seats. Saturday’s game was the third straight in which Johnson homered. The two rookies, Yangervis Solarte and Dean Anna, followed with a single and a double respectively. They were stranded on second and third when the inning concluded after the next two batters could not move them.

The offensive onslaught was quite pleasing to the Yankee manager, “It definitely helps if you can score runs quickly. I think our offense is much more balanced than last year. I think it is much more explosive too.”

The final game of the series will be played on Sunday night. Ivan Nova will start for New York and Felix Doubront will start for Boston.

Boos? What Boos?

A-Rod Only Hears Home Run Cheers,
Tunes Out Jeers for Everything Else

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, AUGUST 12- Humans are strange beings. Most have very short memories and are only concerned with what one has done for them recently. The deeds of the past, both good and bad, are quite quickly forgotten. Most also overlook their own shortcomings but are quick to point out the weaknesses in others.
An example of the above is Alex Rodriguez on Sunday afternoon. In the second inning, as he approached the batter’s box for his first at bat and his name was announced on the public address system, a loud noise of mixed cheers and jeers were heard.

A-Rod lifted the second pitch thrown to him into the stands in leftfield. The home run was greeted with a thunderous ovation, many fans standing in tribute while applauding. The homer was his first of the 2013 campaign, the 648th of his career and accounted for his 1,951st RBI in the majors, giving him sole 5th place in major league history.

With two out in the top of the next inning, Rodriguez had difficulty picking up a ground ball and was issued an error. He was immediately jeered loudly, probably by many who cheered his home run.

In the bottom of the same inning, Rodriguez again received a mixed reaction as his name was announced. As the hard grounder he hit went into rightfield for a single, he was again cheered. The only similarity to all these responses from the fans is they are louder and more emotional than the reactions to any other player on the field.

Rodriguez explained his feelings to the reactions of the fans after the game, “You want to turn boos into cheers; you want to go out and make them proud. All you want is really a chance. I think New York always gives you that.”

In addition to the daily A-Rod story, a baseball game was played on Sunday at Yankee Stadium. The heat and humidity may have help carry baseballs into the stands as seven solo home runs were struck in the nine inning contest.

The first Detroit run came without the benefit of a homer. Starter Andy Pettitte gave up three singles and a base on balls in the first. It was the eighth consecutive start in which Pettitte yielded a run in the first frame.

The veteran gave up no further runs but his outing was cut short after 4.1 innings as he had thrown more than 100 pitches. Later, he commented, “It’s taxing on my body to throw that many pitches early in the game.”

The Yankees scored the next four runs. After A-Rod’s homer in the second, the Yanks gained another run on a sacrifice fly by Eduardo Nuñez.

Each of the remaining runs crossed the plate via a solo round tripper. With two out in the third, Robinson Cano blasted his 23rd homer of the year.

Alfonso Soriano led off the fourth with his 20th home of the season, three as a Yankee and 17 as a Cub. The long ball was the 2,000 major league hit for the veteran outfielder. He is the 16th active player to reach that milestone.

The Yanks kept the 4-1 advantage until catcher Brayan Peña led off the eighth with a home run to right.

The major’s premier closer, Mariano Rivera, entered the game in the ninth. Superstar Miguel Cabrera blasted a long ball to lead off the frame. The home run was his second off “Sandman” on the weekend, making him only the second player, with Edgar Martinez, to homer twice in a single season off Rivera.

After the game, Cabrera, a true professional, put his accomplishment in the perspective of winning, “I don’t know how to explain it. The only thing we can explain is that we lost the game. At the end of the game, the home runs mean nothing.”
Later in the ninth, Victor Martinez’s 10th homer of the season tied the game at 4. The homer gave Rivera a third straight blown save for the first time in his lengthy career. Rivera remarked, “At least it’s only the first time. I don’t pay attention to that stuff. I just try to go out there and do my job.”

With two out in the bottom of the ninth, Brett Gardner recorded his second walk-off hit of the weekend series as he homered to right.

The Yanks begin a four game series with the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night with Hiroki Kuroda (10-7) starting and Garrett Richards (3-4) on the mound for the Angels.

Soriano can't Save Slumping Yanks

C.C. Sabathia Rocked Again
Rays Top Yanks, 10-6

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 27- There was a feeling of excitement and happiness throughout Yankee Stadium on Friday night before the contest between the Yanks and Tampa Rays as the Yanks returned to the Bronx with an old favorite, Alfonso Soriano, in the starting lineup.

The good feeling subsided in the top of the second as the Rays scored six runs before the frame concluded. The Rays’ barrage included three singles, three doubles and a base on balls. The scoring was also aided by a throwing error by catcher Austin Romine. The inning only ended after a run batted in single by impressive rookie Will Myers, who was out at second trying to stretch.

Of Sabathia’s difficulty that inning, Yankees skipper Joe Girardi commented, “He was up tonight. Only one run was in with one out. That was probably the most frustrating part.”

Sabathia reflected after the contest, “I wish I could have made the pitches in the second that I did in the third.”

Yankees starter C.C. Sabathia surrendered a seventh run in his final inning, the fifth. Right fielder Sean Rodriguez led off with a double and crossed the plate on single by James Loney.

Sabathia’s start on Friday was disturbingly similar to his last two efforts. He gave up a minimum of seven runs and did not last more than five innings in each of the three games. The lefty disgustedly remarked, “Getting no help from me is tough.”

The record shows that the Rays love to bat against southpaws. The victory over Sabathia was their 10th in the last 11 games in which they faced a lefthander.
The Rays took a 10-1 advantage in the seventh. Myers led off with a single, giving him a seventh straight multi-hit game. After a walk to Matt Joyce, Loney blasted a three run homer. The first sacker continued his hitting mastery on the road. The major league leader in road batting average hit safely in his 14th straight contest on the road and reached base safely in his 33rd road start.

The Yanks in the final two innings did not die quietly as they put five runs on the board. Rookies Melky Mesa and David Adams, each of who entered the game in the eighth, each got two hits in two trips to the plate.

The month long success of the Rays has propelled them to the top of the standings in the American League East. Since June 29th, the Rays have been victorious in 20 of 23 games. Since that date, they have climbed from fourth place, seven games behind the league leader to first place, 0.5 ahead of the Red Sox.

Ivan Nova (4-3) and Chris Archer (5-3) will be the starting pitchers on Saturday afternoon.