Fans Boo Flat #Yankees

Fans Boo Flat Yanks

Yankees at the mediocre .500 mark

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 2- The night before, Tampa Bay pitcher Chris Archer put the New York Yankees a game closer to the mediocre .500 mark. David Price, rumored to be on the trade market, was on the mound Tuesday night in the Bronx for the Rays. He helped make it official, because the Yankees at the halfway point are 41-41 after a 2-1 loss, and second straight to the resurgent Rays.

The anemic hitting of the Yankees continued. Four hits and only one that went for an extra base says a lot, though Price was a primary reason why the Yankees failed once again to spark a rally. The left-hander, (7-7) through seven innings held the Yankees. He gave up one run and struck out nine.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi can’t find the answer, though he knows a veteran lineup has the capability to be more aggressive at the plate. “These guys have proven track records,”

he said without mentioning names. “These guys have to get it done. They have to grind it out. It’s not just a couple of guys going… it’s a number of guys.”

Struggling, that describes the Yankees who have matched a season high four-game losing streak and losing eight of their last 10 games.

Last year, it was the injuries that reduced the hits and run production. But a spending spree in the off-season and bringing in some power hitters supposedly was to be the answer. At the halfway point, more so in the month of June, the Yankees were near the bottom in the American League from an offensive standpoint.

That does not stand well with a fan base. They could be heard booing the Yankees in the ninth inning, their last at bat attempt to come from behind. Price was dominant, and the Ray’s bullpen finished the job with two scoreless innings and did not allow a hit.

“I don’t know,” Girardi said when asked again about the struggle to get hits and produce runs. “I don’t think you forget to hit in a year.” He was obviously referring to Carlos Beltran and Brian McCann, two of the high priced players on a team with a $200 million payroll who had productive years in the National league last year with the Cardinals and Braves.

The only high priced acquisition that has been respectable, but not incredible, has been Jacoby Ellsbury.

Archer, who has success against the Yankees, was dominant Monday night. And Price, who is on the radar of many teams as the trading deadline looms, was just as dominant. Good pitching will stop good hitting, but the Yankees have not been able to come up with the big hit indicated by a team hitting .249 with runners in scoring position.

Price almost reached 10-strikeouts for a sixth straight start. Had he accomplished that, he would have joined Pedro Martinez, Randy Johnson and Nolan Ryan as an elite group to achieve that accomplishment, and he has been one of the reasons why Tampa Bay is 13-7 since June 11th.

“That would have been cool,” Price commented. It was his 23rd career start against the Yankees and he has never reached double digits against them. The Yankees could use another reliable starter but Price may not be going nowhere the way he has been pounding the strike zone.  

Pitching has not been the Yankees issue. They may get CC Sabathia back from the disabled list a few weeks after the all-star break. Hiroki Kuroda pitched eight good innings and he became the second pitcher to go eight or more this season, next to Masahiro Tanaka. James Loney hit his fifth home run in the sixth inning that was the decisive run.

The Yankees only highlight at the plate were the two hits from Derek Jeter, a leadoff double in the fourth inning, their first hit off Price. And for Jeter it was another milestone, his 534th career double tying him with Lou Gehrig for first place on the Yankees’ all-time doubles list.

“The guys we have- have to get it done. That’s the bottom line," Girardi said. And the Yankees better get it done soon, because at the halfway point it does not look promising for a happy summer ahead in the Bronx.    

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

#Yanks lose

Rays Have Their Way with Yankees

Archer did not get the decision but handled Yankees again

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 1- Again at Yankee Stadium Monday night Chris Archer of the Tampa Bay Rays had his way with a team that can’t figure him out. The Yankees knew what they were up against when Archer got on the mound. His last start in the Bronx was July 27 of last season, a 2-0 shutout. Though he did not figure in the decision of the Rays 4-3 win 12-innings, a win for his team was more important.

Archer is a catalyst towards getting Tampa Bay back into contention. The first half is over, and the Rays are sitting last in the AL east with the second worst record in baseball. They need him, and David Price, if he is not traded, to get some wins for a second half run.

And when he is on the mound against the Yankees, Archer seems to almost make it appear it is a guarantee win. He was 4-0 coming into the game against New York, and left with a 3-2 lead but did not figure in the decision. Regardless a 1.51 ERA in five career starts against the Yankees is impressive.

“I don’t know what it is,” he said about pitching in the Bronx and the Yankees. Archer pitched seven innings and was that close to another win. But the Yankees’ Brian Roberts tied the game with one-out in the ninth inning.

Had he won, Archer would have been the first pitcher to go 5-0 starting a career against the Yankees. The last one to do that was Hall of Famer Walter Johnson of the Washington Senators, from 1907-08, when the Yankees were known as the Highlanders.

Archer smiled when he was told that he would have been in great company.

 “I just have success against this team and it’s cool because it’s a little different team from last year,” said Archer. “When I have good catcher and good defense behind me it lifts our spirits. We’ve been playing really well as of late.”

It was that type of game for the Yankees, again failing to get the runners home and capitalizing on that home run by Roberts to right field. They lost for the seventh time in nine games but only trail first place Toronto by 2-1/2 games in a mediocre division. 

Mediocre enough that if the Rays go on any type of winning streak they could make a run in the second half, as they have won eight of their last 12-games. 

 Archer knows that significance of not getting a win on his record. A win for the team is more important. The Rays are looking to narrow their 9-1/2 game deficit in the division.

 It may look impossible, but mediocrity and good pitching can make it interesting by September.

“He is still learning for a young pitcher and getting better,” Rays’ manager Joe Maddon commented about his starter. “My theory, to win a road game in extra innings is good for nay teams moral.”

Said Archer, “We can come out and win a game like that is special for us. Knowing we can accomplish that it’s special for us. We are not looking at the standings. We know what team we are.”

On the contrary, the Yankees may still be trying to find out who they are. Because two key off-season acquisitions, Carlos Beltran and Brian McCann, part of a $450 million spending spree, continue to disappoint and are not driving in runs. They went a combined 2-for-10, in the four hour and thirty-five minute marathon.  

"I think every team in this division probably feels that they are somewhat fortunate to be where they are with the records that have," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "Being 41-40, you wouldn't necessarily think you would be right in the thick of it."

One thing is certain. The Yankees won’t face Archer again in this three-game series as they get David Price Tuesday night. 

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

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Deadly Weekend

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Deadly Weekend: Deadly Weekend Two Bronxites Dead After Wave of Weekend Violence By David Greene At least three people were killed and 16 injur...

Deadly Weekend

Deadly Weekend

Two Bronxites Dead After Wave of Weekend Violence

By David Greene

At least three people were killed and 16 injured after a wave of weekend violence across the city that has claimed the lives of two Bronxites.

Police say Highbridge resident Jason Bragg, 33, was discovered shot to death on 219 Street in St. Albans, Queens at 10:22 p.m. on Saturday, June 28. He had been shot once in the head and discovered lying face down on the sidewalk.

Bragg's killer remains at large, but police continue to investigate.

At 4:59 a.m. on Sunday, June 29, police were called to 2766 University Avenue at East 195 Street after a male victim was shot in the chest. He later died at St. Barnabas Hospital.

One police source stated, "acting on the description provided by a 911 caller, members of the 50th Precinct immediately initiated a canvas and the suspect was apprehended in the immediate area of the shooting."

Police would question and later charge Jason Delgado, 29, who lived across the street from the shooting scene at 2761 University Avenue, with murder, manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon.

Investigators would later identify the victim as Roderick Romney, 24, a life-long resident of nearby Reservoir Avenue.

One neighbor of Romney's claimed that the victim and perpetrator had been friends. Delgado was expected to be arraigned on Monday, June 30.

In other Bronx shootings, a man was shot in the back at just after midnight on Sunday, at 730 Kelly Street within the 41st Precinct command. The unidentified victim is expected to survive.

Later the same day a man was reportedly stabbed at 1725 Andrews Avenue. Police were looking for a suspect described as a black male, wearing a black shirt and black hat, who fled southbound on Andrews. The unidentified victim was recovering at a local hospital.

Two people were shot at just before 10 p.m. on Sunday at 1115 College Avenue. Police say a female victim transported herself to a local hospital and a 14-year old male was shot in the ankle. Both victims are recovering at Lincoln Hospital.

At just after midnight Monday, June 30, a person was reported shot at 3406 Gunther Avenue, that victim was not expected to survive and no other details were immediately available. 

Reporters covering the LGBT Pride Parade in Manhattan on Sunday say Mayor Bill de Blasio ignored questions about the shootings, but his office later issued a statement that read, "The Mayor and the Police Department are working closely to put hundreds of more officers on the streets, deploy cops to areas experiencing crime spikes and utilize innovative strategies to catch bad guys and keep neighborhoods safe."

Officials say that 100 of those uniformed officers will be hitting the street's across the five boroughs in the coming week.    

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): #Yanks

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): #Yanks: Sox Strike Again Fans Unsure Which Way #Yanks are Heading By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 30- The late June rivalry in the Bronx wit...

#Yanks

Sox Strike Again

Fans Unsure Which Way #Yanks are Heading

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 30- The late June rivalry in the Bronx with the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox still had some meaning. Ask the Red Sox, who took two of three from their AL east rivals with an 8-5 win Sunday night at Yankee Stadium. More importantly the Yankees had an opportunity to narrow the gap with first place Toronto and that awaits another day.

And that can happen over the next three games, narrowing their two game gap, or taking first place as this stretch of 15-straight with divisional opponents concludes with last place Tampa Bay. Yes it is still early, with Monday night the halfway point for the Yankees however winning series against teams in the division are just as vital.

“We don’t want to go out here and lose games,” Carlos Beltran said. “Feels right now these last two games we haven’t been able to do that.” Beltran did his part with a 3-for-4-night, including his 366^th career home run in the fourth inning, tying Lance Berkman for fourth place on baseball’s all-time home run list among switch hitters.

His eighth home run in the fourth inning, a solo shot to right at the time narrowed the Boston lead to 4-3. Mark Teixeira led off the inning with his team leading 15^th home run. Both long balls coming off John Lackey (9-5) who earned the win, allowing five run on six hits.

Lackey did not produce a quality start of 6.0 innings or more, three-runs or less, for the third time in his last 13 outings. And in the position the Red Sox are in, also at the halfway point of their schedule, they need Lackey to produce.

This is a year of the mediocre AL east. The Yankees know, with any type of winning streak that they can take control, even though they are not the Yankees that battled the Red Sox over the years when the division belonged to the two rivals.

“Anytime you win a series on the road, particularly against a team that's ahead of us, these are key,” Boston manager John Farrell said. There is plenty of time to overcome a six-game deficit in the division and the defending world champions with all of their first half problems are realizing the same thing:

Winning a series against the Yankees in the Bronx was important. The Red Sox, a team in transition, are also reaching into their minor league system for that extra help. Mookie Betts, their 21-year-old outfield prospect made his Major League debut and got his first single in the fourth inning.

“It was great,” he said. And it came with no extra pressure, if that can be understood, because it came during a game in what has been described as the biggest rivalry in sports. Derek Jeter can echo those sentiments and remember the first time he took part in the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry as a rookie.

Except, Jeter, did not get the first of many hits against Boston. He had many significant and big hits over the years when the Yankees and Red Sox battled down to the wire for a spot in the post season.

And then there is David Ortiz. He has made the Yankees miserable over the years in this rivalry, and that continued Sunday night. Ortiz has hit 40 home runs against the Yankees since putting on the Boston uniform in 2003, and he launched one off Chase Whitley in the third inning. It was the 450^th of his career and good for 37^th on the all-time list.

Whitley said he was frustrated about the pitch to Ortiz. The Yankees have got more than expected from the rookie right-hander, but this was his second straight loss of four innings and five earned runs. And it comes at a time when the Yankees want to make some significant inroads in the division.

Whitley can’t always be a difference maker as the Yankees wait for CC Sabathia and Michael Pineda to return from the disabled list. When these teams meet in September for six more games, pitching could be the decisive factor as to where they are headed in October.  

"We are all going through are issues, there is no doubt about it, in the division," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "As I said, it is probably going to come down to the end and it is going to be who handles the injuries the best. Obviously, we need to play better. I'm sure every club in our division says that."

This time the Red Sox were the better team, next time it could be the Yankees and that is what makes this rivalry so special. 

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

Tanaka

One Slip Sinks Tanaka

Jon Lester Tops Masahiro Tanaka in Impressive Pitcher’s Duel at Yankee Stadium

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 29- On Saturday night, a sold-out house of 48,433 at Yankee Stadium, the third largest crowd of the season, was attracted to another contest between the biggest rivals in baseball, the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox.

The two courageous and talented starting pitchers, Jon Lester of Boston and Masahiro Tanaka of New York hooked up in an outstandingly performed and fast moving pitcher’s duel.

Lester, 30, was starting his 237th game in the majors. The number of starts would be even higher, but Lester missed large parts of his first two seasons with Boston, 2006 and 2007, after being diagnosed with lymphoma in the summer of 2006. Tanaka, 25, was making his 16th start of his first season in MLB.

Lester pitched no-hit ball for the first five frames. The first hit he yielded was a single up the middle by Brett Gardner, leading off the sixth. After Gardner was thrown out trying to stretch his single to a double, the next two batters, Derek Jeter and Jacoby Ellsbury, each singled, but were left on base when the inning ended.

The only run given up by Lester was scored without a hit. Brian Roberts was safe on an error to begin the Yankee third. The next batter, Yangervis Solarte, was hit by a pitch. Gardner pushed them each up one base with a sacrifice bunt. The unearned run was scored on an infield groundout by Jeter.

Lester’s superlative performance of pitching eight innings without allowing an earned run, while only yielding five hits, was last equaled by a Red Sox pitcher in the Bronx when it was accomplished by Lester on July 3, 2008 in the original Yankee Stadium’s final season.

When asked to describe Lester’s outing, Yankee skipper Joe Girardi remarked, “He does what he always does. He cuts it; he sinks it; he locates. He pitched extremely well tonight.”

The leading Rookie-of-the-Year candidate, Tanaka, pitched his third complete game of the season. He walked one batter and surrendered seven hits, but only two pitches were responsible for his loss.

Catcher David Ross took a 1-0 pitch into the stands for a solo home run with one out in the third.

The winning run came with two out in the ninth on the 112th pitch thrown by the Yankee starter. With the count 1-2 on Mike Napoli, who had two hits and homered off Tanaka in their previous encounter on April22, Tanka threw a fast ball over the plate that Napoli sent into the right field stands.

Through his translator, Tanaka explained what happened, “The sign was for a breaking ball, but I wanted to go hard outside. That’s why I shook him [catcher Brian McCann] off twice. He asked for a splitter and a slider. I wanted to set up for a breaking ball on the next pitch, but I missed my spot.”

After the game, Girardi was asked why he didn’t remove Tanaka in the ninth. He responded with the following statement, “He’d been excellent all night. His stuff was really outstanding. I liked how he’d been throwing the baseball.” 

Neither deserved to lose such a well-pitched game yet one did. Both deserved to win such a well-pitched game yet only one did. That’s baseball, a game of inches.

 

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Pick Pocket

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Pick Pocket: Sticky Fingers Shops Along #Fordham Road Cops Release Pic of Pick Pocket By Dan Gesslein BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 27- Call her Fordham’s mos...

Pick Pocket

Sticky Fingers Shops Along #Fordham Road

Cops Release Pic of Pick Pocket

By Dan Gesslein

BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 27- Call her Fordham’s most wanted. Cops are looking for a serial pickpocket who ripped off shoppers along Fordham Road over a six-month period.

Police released a photo of a sticky-fingered suspect, they say, struck at a Marshalls store seven times. The thief also struck other businesses in the Fordham shopping district including a Children’s Place, a cell phone store and a Burlington Coat Factory.

In incidents dating back to January, cops say the suspect repeatedly robbed shoppers at the Marshalls store, located at 2501 Grand Concourse, and made off with cash and credit cards. In those cases, the suspect took either victim’s wallet or purse and made off with cash ranging from $200 to $5. 

As spring arrived, the crook upped her game. On April 17, the thief struck at a T-Mobile store on Fordham Road. The suspect made off with a 63 year-old’s bag which contained a laptop, two cellphones and chargers.  

On May 3rd, the thief made off with a 70-year-old woman’s paycheck worth $1,044. The victim had put her property containing her paycheck on the counter of a supermarket when the thief helped herself.

The suspect is described as a 40-year-old black woman who is 5 foot 5 and weighs 135 pounds. She was last seen wearing a turquoise shirt and a beige hat.

Anyone with information is urged to call CRIMESTOPPERS at (800) 577-TIPS. The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.

All calls are strictly confidential.

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Teen has Wild West Shootout with Cops

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Teen has Wild West Shootout with Cops: Teen has Wild West Shootout with Cops By Dan Gesslein BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 26- Cops arrested a teenager in Claremont who thought he was i...

Teen has Wild West Shootout with Cops

Teen has Wild West Shootout with Cops

By Dan Gesslein

BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 26- Cops arrested a teenager in Claremont who thought he was in the Wild West. The teen took shots at cops with a revolver that looked like it came out of an old Western movie.

At around 7:40 p.m. on June 25, officers from the 42 Precinct Anti-Crime team were conducting a patrol inside 595 East 179th Street. Suddenly, the officers heard a woman scream out, "He has a gun."

Outside cops saw a 15 year old with a revolver. As officers gave chase, the teen turned and opened fire. The gunman missed and police did not return fire. Cops caught the teen at St. Paul's Avenue and Crotona Street. A 22 caliber old style revolver was recovered at the scene.

Charges are pending.

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Bad luck on Friday the 13th

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Bad luck on Friday the 13th: More than a black cat crossed his path Photo by David Greene Friday the 13th proved to be the downfall for one man as he was apprehended b...

Bad luck on Friday the 13th

More than a black cat crossed his path

Photo by David Greene

Friday the 13th proved to be the downfall for one man as he was apprehended by members of the U.S. Marshals Service, who were joined by NYPD detectives. The incident unfolded at just after 1 p.m. on Friday, June 13. Officials say the still-unidentified man was wanted on drug charges in South Carolina and was grabbed by the team in front of 10 East 198 Street in Bedford Park.

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): High Speed deemed Cause of Bruckner Horror

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): High Speed deemed Cause of Bruckner Horror: High Speed deemed Cause of Bruckner Horror Brooklyn Man Dies in Fatal Highway Plunge   By David Greene BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 24...

High Speed deemed Cause of Bruckner Horror

High Speed deemed Cause of Bruckner Horror

Brooklyn Man Dies in Fatal Highway Plunge

 

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 24- A Brooklyn man has died after his out-of-control vehicle jumped a curb, crashed through a metal barrier and chain-link fence --and plummeted more than 20 feet to his death.

Authorities were called to East Tremont Avenue and the Bruckner Boulevard Service Road at 10:50 p.m. on June 20.

Rescue crews shutdown both directions of the busy highway as the victim was extricated from the mangled 2012 Chevrolet Cruz.

One source stated that paramedics were performing CPR on the victim as he was transported to Jacobi Hospital. However, the man was pronounced dead upon arrival to the hospital.

The police would later identify him as 26-year-old Jean Espinosa-Villacis of Argyle Road in Brooklyn.

According to one police source, "The victim was traveling northbound on the Bruckner Boulevard Service Road at a high rate of speed, attempted to make a left turn onto East Tremont Avenue when the operator lost control."

Officials say Villacis fell 23 feet into the northbound lane of the highway and approaching vehicles were able to stop in time and no other vehicles were involved.

William Rivera, the founder of the Cross Bronx Expressway Imitative (CBI), who has helped identify several area roadways where drivers are in danger of being sent airborne, stated that the latest site was not on his list.

The CBI identified the section of the Bronx River Parkway at the Bronx Zoo as a hazard before 7 family members were killed in a horrific crash in April 2012. That section of roadway has recently undergone renovation.

Rivera added, "Maybe I should drive around again because cars are flying all over the place."   

(The broken chain-link fence dangles precariously over the Bruckner Expressway.--Photo by Aryana Nicole Bella)

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Old Timers' Day Photos

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Old Timers' Day Photos: From Yogi to Tino to Goose and Rickey legends returned to Yankee Stadium to take part in the 2014 Old Timers' Day festivities. (Phot...

Old Timers' Day Photos

From Yogi to Tino to Goose and Rickey legends returned to Yankee Stadium to take part in the 2014 Old Timers' Day festivities.


(Photos by Ken Carozza)

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Deadly accident

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Deadly accident: Horror on the Bruckner (Photos by Ken Carozza) BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 21- A man was killed when his car flew over the guardrail and fell 20 f...

Deadly accident

Horror on the Bruckner

(Photos by Ken Carozza)

BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 21- A man was killed when his car flew over the guardrail and fell 20 feet flew onto the Bruckner Expressway.

Cops say the 2012 Chevy Cruz was eastbound on East Tremont Avenue at around 10:50 p.m. on June 21. NYPD's Collision Investigation Squad is trying to determine the cause of the accident. The driver apparently lost control, struck the guardrail and plunged to the highway below. 

The 26-year-old driver was pronounced dead. Police did not release the driver's name.

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Diner Lured for a Beating

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Diner Lured for a Beating: Diner Lured for a Beating By Dan a Gesslein BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 20- A late night diner was beaten and robbed by a group of men and women...

Diner Lured for a Beating

Diner Lured for a Beating

By Dan a Gesslein

BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 20- A late night diner was beaten and robbed by a group of men and women in University Heights.

The attack took place at 2:30 a.m. on June 7 at 1969 University Avenue. Cops say the 32-year-old victim was lured out of the restaurant by a woman. Once outside, the group pounced beating, the man and taking his money and cell phone.

Police released surveillance video of the gang.

Anyone with information should call CRIMESTOPPERS at (800) 577-TIPS. The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.

All calls are strictly confidential.

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Yankees Headin’ Back to the Top?

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Yankees Headin’ Back to the Top?: Yankees Headin’ Back to the Top? Fans Think So By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 20- A three-game sweep over Toronto has the New York ...

Yankees Headin’ Back to the Top?

Yankees Headin’ Back to the Top?

Fans Think So

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 20- A three-game sweep over Toronto has the New York Yankees feeling confident. And it should carry towards more momentum Friday night when the Baltimore Orioles come to Yankee Stadium for three more But the Blue Jays are a team the Yankees have to chase in the AL east and Thursday night they got closer to the first place Jays.

David Phelps continued to be a momentum builder on the mound, and the Yankees once again scored first and tacked on runs. The bullpen took over as the Yankees won their third straight, 4-2.

A week ago, the Yankees had that continued issue of situational hitting missing from the lineup. The captain, Derek Jeter, struggled and Carlos Beltran, one of their key off- season free agent acquisitions, was coming off the disabled list. The past three nights in the Bronx, and against a powerful Toronto lineup, the Yankees looked like a first place team.

They are now tied in the loss column with Toronto, 1/1-2 games from first place. Does a chase for first place in mid-June have anything to do with this resurgence, or is this just the part of a long baseball season?

 “There is a lot of meaning to these games,” manager Joe Girardi commented. His team has won seven of their past nine games. “We all understand that, and we know they understand that. When you face each other 19 times, you look to try to catch people, put some distance between some people and win series."

The Yankees swept a series for the fourth time this season. This one, though, had significance with a stretch of 15 consecutive games against divisional opponents. The Orioles will present a challenge and Tampa Bay, in the cellar, always does. These were the first place Blue Jays who have gone 3-9 over their last 12 games, and been on top since the 22^nd of May.

"Hey, if you're going to play in prime time, you've got to perform on the big stage and we didn't do it," Toronto manager John Gibbons said. "We're fully capable of doing it. We just didn't do it. It'll be definitely good to move on.”

The Blue Jays move on. They will have time to figure out a way to break a 16-game losing streak at Yankee Stadium. Their next stint in the Bronx is scheduled at the end of next month.

The Yankees are looking at the positive side of things. The past three games everything came together, something they projected themselves to do with their off-season spending spree that surpassed $450 million in free agents. Brian McCann, the catcher, who had a go ahead home run the night before, realized the significance of winning three against the front runners.   

“We were able to score some runs,” he commented. “Swinging the bat better…It’s hard to pinpoint one thing. We’re putting together better consistent at bats. It’s big to win games. Obviously when you play teams in your division, you want to win.”

McCann is swinging the bat better. “We’re playing better baseball than we were the past couple of weeks,” he said. Jeter has been getting on base, a .405 clip in his last nine games and Brett Gardner, 1-for-3, Thursday night is batting .366, 15-for-41 over his last ten games.

"Big series for us," Adam Warren said. The reliever earned his second save of the season after retiring two Blue Jays’ in the ninth. The closer David Robertson needed a night off after pitching the first two games of the series.

 "It's nice to kind of see our team click a little bit and play some good baseball,” said Warren

These are words being said by a Yankees team that was looking for answers last week. That included the final two games out in Oakland that did not go their way. And, yes, everything is clicking, even with this contingency of a starting rotation because three quarters of the regulars are on the disabled list.

Aside from Masahiro Tanaka, and his 11-1 record, the manager is elated what he is getting from Chase Whitley and Vidal Nuno. Then there is David Phelps, (3-4) who tossed seven-innings and gave up two runs with a good back door cutter and curve, but allowed a home run to Melky Cabrera in the third inning.

“Refreshing to see guys like Chase (Whitley), one of the biggest things that motivated me,” Phelps commented. The sweep, it’s huge. We gotta win games against them.”

And winning games during this divisional stretch is what the Yankees did. Time will tell if this division will continue to be bunched with teams in September, and that also includes the Red Sox who may not be ready to give up their World Series crown.

We do know this though: Three games have sent a message that the Yankees intend to be a part of this equation by September.  

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

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Yanks Sweep Blue Jays

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Yanks Sweep Blue Jays: Yanks Sweep Blue Jays By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 20- The Yanks 6-4 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday night at Yank...

Yanks Sweep Blue Jays

Yanks Sweep Blue Jays

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 20- The Yanks 6-4 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday night at Yankee Stadium gave them a sweep of the three-game series. The win cut the Toronto lead over the second place Yankees to 1.5 games in the American League East. The win was also the 16^th straight for the Yankees over the Blue Jays in the Bronx.

As in the previous two starts against the Blue Jays, a combination of effective pitching and timely hitting led to the Yankee victory. Carlos Beltrán, who contributed to the win with two runs driven in, described the three games against Toronto thusly, “We got great outings from our starting pitchers and we scored runs.”

David Phelps, who starts or relieves as the need arises, pitched seven innings on Thursday, which tied for his high for the season. His performance was outstanding as he only yielded six hits and two walks during his stint on the mound. 

Only two of the six hits did damage. With two out in the third, Jose Reyes singled. The next batter, Melky Cabrera, delivered. The former Yankee homered to right to drive in two runs. The home run was his second hit of the game and extended his hitting streak against his former team to 19 games, the longest active hitting streak by a player against any team. Cabrera has reached base safely in all his 21 games against the Yankees.

Phelps has not had much difficulty in his four career starts against Toronto, all played in the Bronx. He raised his won/loss mark to 3-0 and lowered his ERA to 2.67. The 27 year-old said, “I expected to be on a longer leash” since relievers Dellin Betances and David Robertson were not available to pitch.

New York, without the luxury of any home runs, used effective at bats to score its six runs.  The rare use of “small ball’ was responsible for the Yankee win.

Sacrifice flies by Jacoby Ellsbury in the first, Kelly Johnson in the second and Carlos Beltrán in the third gave the Yankees its first three scored.

Beltrán’s double in the fifth drove in the fourth run for New York. A ground out to short by Derek Jeter in the sixth and a bases loaded walk in the seventh scored the final two runs for the Yankees.

The Baltimore Orioles will be visiting for the three game weekend series. On Saturday a plaque to honor Tino Martinez will be placed in Monument Park. Goose Gossage will be honored with a plaque on Sunday. Also, the annual Old Timers’ Day festivities will take place on Sunday.

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Chase Whitley

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Chase Whitley: Chasing Success for #Yank Pitcher Whitley get another quality start and timely hits in win over first place Jays By Rich Mancuso ...

Chase Whitley

Chasing Success for #Yank Pitcher

Whitley get another quality start and timely hits in win over first place Jays

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 19- Chase Whitley has become valuable to the New York Yankees pitching rotation and there is no telling how more valuable he will become. Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium, in his seventh start, Whitley gave manager Joe Girardi another five good innings. A revived Yankees offense got the early lead and tacked on runs.

All is going good again in the Bronx, even the bullpen did their job in a 7-3 win over the first place Toronto Blue Jays.

For the second straight night the Yankees handed the first place Blue Jays a loss, the 25th straight home win over Toronto dating back to September 19, of 2012. But the important point for the Yankees was another win with good pitching, and the timely hit. All of a sudden first place is getting close and that seemed to be slipping away as of a week ago when they lost two of three games out in Oakland.

If they sweep the three-game series Thursday night, well first place will be a game-and-a half away. The Yankees would also be even in the loss column with Toronto.

There are two aspects to consider with the Yankees during this current string of games with opponents from the AL East. One is how the first place Jays suddenly, are not as invincible as they were a week ago. The other is, the Yankees are 6-2 in their last eight games and are doing things that have not been evident much.

And, the unexpected quality starts are contributing to a revival in the Bronx. Whitley allowed two earned runs and improved to 3-0 after starting his season with four straight no decisions.

“Did not know what to expect when he came up,” Girardi said. “We have never seen him as a starter. So our expectations have changed a lot.

The right-hander threw 95 pitches and has been a pleasant addition to the rotation. Whitley made his Major League debut against the cross-town Mets on May 15th after being summoned from Triple-A Scranton. The Yankees needed a starter in the rotation due to their rash of injuries.

He could be here longer, because, Girardi and the Yankees now know what to expect. Whitley has made a claim to stay in the Bronx. Eventually he will increase his length of time on the mound, and he could be a part of a rotation when the inflamed right knee of CC Sabathia heels and that may require more time.

Though he has not been in the Bronx that long, Whitley has adjusted and was talking like a veteran. He said, the command was not his best. He also gave credit to his catcher, Brian McCann who tied a career high with five runs batted in. The big hit was McCann’s two-run homer in the fourth inning that put New York ahead, 3-2.

There is also a difference in the Yankees clubhouse, and winning will do that.

“We’re relaxed and having fun,” Whitley commented. “It comes with winning, that’s contagious.”

He has learned quickly what it takes to be a winning pitcher, and of course the big hit and night from McCann helped the cause.

"It was about time I chipped it in, and tonight was a good night to do that," McCann said. "It was just nice to contribute… on the offensive side for a change." He also had a bases loaded triple, and this is the type of offense the Yankees have been expecting from their catcher who has been struggling to get the big hit at home.

McCann was hitting .174 in June. It was the type of game he needed and it came off the Jays’ best starter, Mark Buehrie, (10-4) who remained winless in his last 13 starts against the Yankees.

Girardi said, “We really believe in him as an offensive force and he showed it tonight. A couple tough lefties he's facing and he drives in five. He's done a great job behind home plate. He's never taken it behind home plate."

He added, “This is the team we are chasing. These games are extremely important playing teams within your own division.”

Two straight wins over Toronto. These are the games the Yankees need to win and they may be doing it at the right time with more than half a season of games left to play. There is no telling where this new feel of winning will take them. For now though, the Yankees are enjoying it and look for the sweep Thursday night.

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