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.

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.

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.

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.

A-Rod a No Show

Boos continue, but this time it's Hughes
Yankee Win Streak Ends at One Game

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, AUGUST 11- The excitement of the return of Alex Rodriguez to Yankee Stadium for the first time since October drew a sell-out of 46,545 on Friday night. Love him or hate him, the desire to see A-Rod on the field at Yankee Stadium attracted only the fourth sell-out of the 2013 season.

The fourth walk-off win of the year on Friday brought hope to Yankees fans, who again packed the house with 45,728 on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in the Bronx. To their disappointment, the Yankees did not win and Rodriguez did not play.
The result of the top of the first inning brought an unsettling feeling to many of the oft-disappointed Yankee rooters. The presence of Phil Hughes on the mound did not add a feeling of confidence to the fans present.

A former minor league phenom in the Yankees organization, Austin Jackson, led off Saturday’s game with a triple to center. The next batter, Torii Hunter, drove the speedy Jackson across the plate with a sacrifice fly to center.

Not surprising to anyone in the stadium Miguel Cabrera hit a solo home run to left on a 0-1 pitch in the third. The player most fans, regardless of team, consider the best player in the majors today hit his 35th round tripper and his 109th RBI. Cabrera’s skipper, Jim Leyland, a 50-year veteran in baseball, commented upon his superlative player, “It’s hard to believe, really, what we’re seeing, to be honest.”

The above two Tigers contributed to the four-run fifth inning. Jackson led off the parade of hits with his ninth homer of his season shortened by one month on the disabled list. A single by Hunter terminated Hughes’s outing.

The offensive onslaught continued against reliever Preston Claiborne. Cabrera’s third hit of the game was a single. With two out, Victor Martinez doubled in a run and Don Kelly followed with a two-run single.

Hughes left the game after surrendering four runs in 4.1 innings. He walked off the field to the sound of resounding jeers. The two homers he yielded raised his yearly total to 22 in 22 starts. Another reason for the removal at that moment was the next batter he was to face was Cabrera, who had a .560 batting average against Hughes (14 for 25). He had also hit successfully off the righty in his last seven at bats.

After the game, the starter admitted, “It was never like I was really comfortable out there. I was always working out of tough situations. That’s what led to the high pitch count.” Hughes threw 99 pitches in 4.1 innings.

The offensive assault continued against reliever Preston Claiborne. Cabrera’s third hit of the game was a single. With two out, Victor Martinez doubled in one run and was followed by a single by Don Kelly that drove in the third and fourth tallies of the inning.

The final three Detroit runs came on a three-run homer by Torii Hunter in the sixth off Joba Chamberlain.

Detroit starter Anibal Sanchez retired the first nine batters he faced. He gave up only two hits in the fourth and two in the fifth during his seven inning stint. This was the eighth of his 20 starts in which he has yielded four hits or less and the 11th in which he has fanned at least eight.

The veteran hurler Justin Verlander aptly summed up his team’s strength, “I think that this is the team that we want to be. Right now, I think we’re pitching well, we’re hitting well and we’re playing good defense.” It’s not surprising the Tigers are currently 23 games above .500.

The Yankee offense was named Lyle Overbay. He knocked in all three Yankees tallies. He hit a two-run homer in the fifth and the final run with a single in the ninth.
The finale of the three game set on Sunday afternoon will have Andy Pettitte (7-9) and Justin Verlander (12-8) in the starting roles.

Fans to A-Rod: You're a Bum

'He is a disgrace to the game of baseball' - player says

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, AUGUST 10- Fans at Yankee Stadium Friday night waited 52-minutes because of a rain delay before they could let Alex Rodriguez know how they felt. He was introduced as a part of the starting lineup. The reaction appeared to be mixed. Then the famed row call from the “Bleacher Creatures” was heard.

A-Rod heard his name, and the reaction was also mixed, though at one point it sounded like he was getting booed out of the building. A-Rod gave his wave to the creatures in the right field bleacher area.

It was the second part of the Alex Rodriguez Hollywood script that finally landed back in the Bronx. It ended with a successful Yankees win in 10-innings that made them feel a little better about themselves.

Some will say all of the attention Alex Rodriguez is receiving overshadows the problems his team is confronting. The Yankees, with 50-games left on the schedule, are as far away from playing October baseball as the Rodriguez decision on his appeal that is pending with Major League Baseball.

Also, don’t believe that the entire membership of the Major League Baseball Player’s Association is in the corner of Alex Rodriguez. A prominent player with the Tigers said before the game, when asked if A-Rod was a fraud, “That’s being nice. He is a disgrace to the game of baseball.”

He added that that the sentiment of membership has to be tolerant with this sensitive issue. There does though, need to be a line drawn. “Take the suspension and go," he commented.

A-Rod, the 211-game suspension abusing, baseball’s anti doping policies continuedHollywood script. Nobody does it better, another reason why the Yankees had only their fourth sell-out this season. Perhaps the model athlete, Miguel Cabrera of the Tigers, spoiled the script with a two-out- ninth inning two-run home run off the great Mariano Rivera.

However, A-Rod was not around to see it. His night was over after going 0-for-4, striking out three times.

“It’s probably 50-50 tonight and maybe more cheers,” said the manager Joe Girardi about the crowd reaction in this latest script revolving around a ballplayer that knows how to write a perfect script for himself, that being Alex Rodriguez.

"It’ something he has to put out his mind,” added Girardi. “He’s had to deal with stuff before.” Indeed, A-Rod has dealt with this before, and like the legendary Frank Sinatra said, “I did it my way.”

That way, spring training, Tampa Florida in 2009. A-Rod said he would not disappoint fans and the game of baseball again. The script would continue with an MVP type performance of a post season, a fraud because it was done once again using performance enhancing drugs. All the evidence without a jury makes it look that way.

And with an Alex Rodriguez Hollywood script, that would be the first case scenario.

The start of a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers, a team coming in with a 12-game winning streak was also put on the side because of more A-Rod theatre. The Yankees came back to the Bronx Friday night having lost four straight, at 57-56, and one game over .500.

Yes, Alex Rodriguez was more important as the Yankees try to find something to get back in the pennant race mix. The Yankees crowd saw the return of Curtis Granderson. He has not made much of an impact since returning from the disabled list last Friday night in San Diego.

But, he was also overshadowed because this was the return of Alex Rodriguez to the Bronx, a ballplayer who can write a script as good as they come in Hollywood.

There were some signs in the crowd. “Welcome back A-Rod” and “We are behind you 100 Percent.” That is expected, because Alex Rodriguez is that type of ballplayer who gathers that attention, whether you love or hate him.

This entire Biogenesis fiasco of a scandal has become Alex Rodriguez drama, as it always is. It has not centered on the other 12- players that were suspended and did not appeal. The drama continued with his first time back in the Bronx since being benched last October in the ALCS that the Yankees lost to the Tigers.

And surly the drama will continue. Because this is a script Alex Rodriguez has created that belongs in Hollywood when his farce of a career is finally over.

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

A-Rod Circus Comes to Bronx

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, AUGUST 10- After a disappointing road trip in which they lost six of eight games, the Yankees returned to the Bronx on Friday to begin a three game series with the American League Central leading Detroit Tigers.

Going into the series, The Yanks had won only six of their last 20 games, the Yanks are a season worst 11 games out of first place in the A.L. East and seven games behind the Texas Rangers for the second Wild Card spot in the American League. The Tigers brought a 12 game winning streak to Yankee Stadium and were winners of 16 of their last 17 contests.

Although Alex Rodriguez received a 211 game suspension from MLB that began last Thursday, his appeal will probably keep him in the Yankee lineup for the remainder of the season. The arbitrator’s ruling will most likely not be made until public until after the 2013 season concludes.

Rodriguez, as was expected, spoke enthusiastically of his return to his home ballpark, “I’ve been waiting a long time for this day. I’m just privileged to come home on a Friday night against a tough opponent. I’m just really excited.”

When asked his expectations of the reaction of the home fans, he responded, “I haven’t thought about it. I’m not sure.” The decibel level in the stadium rose at each mention of his name on the public address system. The fans reacted strongly, both positively and negatively. Most observers in the park described the reaction as mixed.

According to Yankees skipper Joe Girardi, “I look at it as 50-50, maybe a little more cheers.” Asked if he believed Rodriguez would have too much difficulty dealing with the pressure, the manager responded in an understatement, “Alex has had to deal with stuff before.”

A-Rod did not contribute to any of the four runs scored by the Yanks. He struck out in the first with a runner on third. He again struck out with a runner on third in the third. He fanned a third time and flied to right in his final two trips to the plate.

Rodriguez was replaced by Jayson Nix in the ninth for defensive purposes. That may have been instrumental in the victory for the Yanks as Nix scored the winning tally in the 10th inning.

Nix walked to lead-off the 10th. He moved to second on a single by Curtis Granderson. He moved to third on wild pitch by the losing pitcher, Al Alburquerque. With two out, Brett Gardner singled to left to drive Nix across the plate for the 4-3 walk-off win.

Before the game, Gardner was presented with the MLB Players Association Heart and Hustle Award. The Yankees winner of this prestigious honor lived up to it during the game.

He walked and scored the first Yankee run in the first. He singled and scored the Yankees second run in the third. He singled again to lead-off the fifth. His third single of the contest drove in the winning run. Rather than taking personal credit, he remarked, “We feel like every game now is a must win.”

The win ended the four game losing streak of the Yanks and the 12 game winning streak of Detroit.

Phil Hughes (4-10) and Anibal Sanchez (9-7) will be the starters in the second game of the series on Saturday afternoon.

Chris Archer Blanks Yanks, 1-0

By Howard Godlin

BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 28- A very large crowd, 43,424, took advantage of a beautiful Saturday afternoon in July to relax outdoors and enjoy a major league baseball game at Yankee Stadium. Those who are pleased by viewing an extremely well-pitched, low scoring mound duel that moves quickly were in the right place on Saturday. Those who prefer high run totals boosted by home runs would have been disappointed by Saturday’s ballgame.

The two young hurlers, Ivan Nova, 26, and Chris Archer, 24, who started, easily handled the vast majority of batters they faced during the ballgame. Baserunners were few and far between.

The Rays scored the only run in the contest in the top of the sixth. Appropriately for such a masterly pitched game by both starters, the run was achieved by “small ball.”
With one out, James Loney raised his major league leading road batting average with his second single of the game. Loney is currently batting .371 in road games. The first sacker was forced at second on a ground ball by Ben Zobrist, who quickly stole second. Matt Joyce walked and Kelly Johnson drove in the lone run of the game with a single to center.

Before the game, Tampa skipper Joe Maddon decided to start Johnson in left rather than Sean Rodriguez, who started the previous night’s contest. After the game, the genial manager of the Rays commented, “The players make you look good.”

The loss was the second straight for Nova, neither of which he deserved to receive as the Yanks did not score a run in either contest. You cannot get a victory if your team is shutout. He only yielded the one run and six hits in seven innings.
Maddon described the game in the following honest words, “It was like a mid-60’s game at Yankee Stadium. It was incredible to watch, but our guy was just a little better.” Veteran catcher Yadier Molina of Tampa said of Nova, “He was really sharp today, curveballs, sliders.”

The Tampa starter has pitched outstandingly since his first start against the Yankees on June 23. The same two starting pitchers began that game with the win going to Archer and the Rays, 3-2. From that date, Archer is 5-0 and the Rays were victorious in all seven of his starts. The youngster gave up only seven earned runs in 48 innings during that period. His skills have improved as time has passed. He has only yielded one earned run during his last four starts (31 innings).

On Saturday, he threw his second complete game shutout in his last three starts. He did not walk a batter and only two Yankees recorded base hits, Lyle Overbay, a single in the fifth and Brett Gardner, a double in the sixth.

Maddon’s praise for his sterling rookie seemed endless, “Overall, it was a great mix with overwhelming stuff. He’s really growing and doing it against some really good teams. He was just [a success] waiting to happen. He’s in control of his emotions.”
Archer spoke about his emotions after the victory, “Stupendously amazing is how it feels. Our team’s just rolling along now [21 wins in the last 24 games]. It’s more fun now playing baseball than at any level.”

He gave credit for the advice given to him by Curt Schilling two days ago, “Schilling advised me to have a purpose for every pitch. I found myself doing that today.”

Although the pitching was superlative, the lack of Yankee hitting is disturbing to the team’s rooters. They have been held to two hits on four occasions in 2013.The Yankees have not homered in the last nine games. That homerless streak is the longest since 1984, when the Yanks hit no homers in 10 straight games.

The defeat placed the Yankees in their most precarious position of the season, eight games out of first place.

On Sunday, Mike Moore (14-3) will attempt to break the tie with Bártolo Colón and Max Scherzer and become the undisputed major league win leader. He will start against Phil Hughes (4-9) in the final game of the series and short homestand at Yankee Stadium. Prior to the game, there will be a special retirement ceremony to honor former Yankee Hideki Matsui.

Nova Pitches Yanks to Fifth Straight Win

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 6- The Yanks returned to the Bronx on Friday to begin a 10-game homestand. They started their recently completed road trip by losing three straight to Baltimore, an outcome they hope to reverse in the Bronx, but terminated it in a positive manner by sweeping a four game series in Minnesota.

The Orioles and Yanks, currently battling for second place in the American League East, began a meaningful three-game set on Friday night.

Runs were scarce to accumulate in the exciting pitching duel. The Birds reached the scoreboard first as Chris Davis, their slugger supreme, was hit by a pitch to lead-off the second. Catcher Matt Wieters followed with a home run that just passed beyond the outstretched glove of leftfielder Vernon Wells. The homer did not unnerve Ivan Nova as the 26-year-old starter retired the next 12 batters.

The Orioles starter Miguel Gonzalez only surrendered one run in his six innings on the mound. The run was manufactured in the fifth after two were out. Wells singled to left. Lyle Overbay walked and shortstop Luis Cruz, signed as a free agent only two days earlier, drove in the first run of the Yankees with a single to left.

Gonzalez, a sophomore in the majors, only gave up four hits, but walked five. The native of Mexico was able to make pitches when necessary as he left the sacks full in the fourth and fifth. Yankees batters failed in the clutch against the 28 year-old as they were only 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position against him.

Two Yankees runs in the ninth that led to the walk-off victory that was as skipper Joe Girardi described it, “A great team win.”

Rookie David Adams led off with a single. Brett Gardner was safe on an error by closer Joe Johnson. The veteran Wells later spoke about this moment. “When he misplays it, you see this [game] could be special.”

Ichiro Suzuki sacrificed the runners to second and third. Slugger Robinson Cano was intentionally walked. Travis Hafner drew a walk, which knocked in the tying run. After the game, Girardi expressed his faith in Hafner batting at that crucial time in the game, “He’s been in that situation a ton of times. You just feel he’s going to get the job done.” Wells then singled in the winning run to successfully end the contest.

After the contest, Wells told reporters, “It’s rare when you have a second chance and come through.” He was referring to him and Hafner making out with bases loaded in the fifth.

Nova pitched the best game of his short career. It was his first complete game in the majors. He yielded three hits, but only one in the final seven frames. Chris Stewart, his catcher for the first eight inning commented, “That’s the best that I’ve seen him. He threw a lot of two seamers, getting a lot of ground balls and missed swings.”

In a Saturday matinee when Andy Pettitte figurines will be given to the fans in attendance, the figurines’ namesake (5-6), hoping to continue his undefeated mark in his last 10 starts against the Orioles, will be on the mound against Chris Tillman (10-2) for the Birds.