Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Mustang mistakes make for a loss

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Mustang mistakes make for a loss: Hudson Valley capitalizes, 18-17 By Gary Axelbank BRONX, NEW YORK, October 15- The Monroe Mustangs' mistake and penalty-fille...

Mustang mistakes make for a loss

Hudson Valley capitalizes, 18-17

By Gary Axelbank

BRONX, NEW YORK, October 15- The Monroe Mustangs' mistake and penalty-filled performance against Hudson Valley turned a potential win into a frustrating 18-17 loss at Reinhart Field on Saturday night.  

Beset by an inordinate number of miscues, including several offensive false starts and a crucial fumbled punt in the fourth quarter, the Mustangs could not capitalize on an outstanding game by hometown running back Justin Johnson and a sparking game by freshman linebacker Leonardo Myers. As a result, Monroe dropped to 2-5 in their inaugural season. This was the 1-6 Vikings' first win of the year. 

"We shot ourselves in the foot too many times tonight and it hurt our chances in trying to beat Hudson Valley," said Coach Terry Karg.

Monroe had a whopping 13 penalties for 84 yards (HV had 9 for 55 yards) including six false starts and one delay of game that stifled a number of drives and called back several important gains. The yellow flags also contributed mightily to Monroe's 1/14 third down efficiency in the game, forcing Monroe to try and play out of a number of third-and-longs.

Monroe also had four fumbles in the game, losing three of them.

Monroe led 7-6 after one quarter, with the Mustangs' score coming on a five-yard run by QB Michael Campbell, a surprise starter since Manny Cortez has received acclaim for his multi-faceted game through the first half of the season. But Coach Karg wanted to put the versatile and productive Cortez in a number of different positions to make the best use of his remarkable talents.

Unfortunately for Monroe, even though Cortez had an eye-popping 44-yard punt return that featured some dazzling twists and turns, he had maybe the biggest gaffe of the game, fumbling a punt with just over nine-minutes left and Monroe leading 17-12. Moments later the Vikings scored the touchdown that was ultimately the game winner.

“We used Manny Cortez in a number of different looks today and had him running back punts to make the most of his abilities and also give Mike Campbell a chance to play the whole game at QB. Some things Manny did well and some we'll have to clean up a bit," said Coach Karg. 

Halfback Johnson had an excellent game for Monroe. The New Rochelle native had 19 carries for 157 net yards, including an impressive 57-yard run from scrimmage in the third quarter.  Myers was a force on defense, leading the team with 10 solo tackles.

Kicker Juan Gatti had a 27-yard field goal, the second-game in a row that he nailed one. He also was 2/2 on PAT's and made a solo tackle on a kickoff return. Campbell had a 15-yard TD pass to Gunner Majer, which temporarily gave Monroe the lead in the second half.

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Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Blown Call

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Blown Call: More than a blown call that has the Yankees against the wall as they leave for Detroit down, 2-0 By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, October ...

Blown Call

More than a blown call that has the Yankees against the wall as they leave for Detroit down, 2-0

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, October 15- Cleary it was a blown call that was unacceptable in the Tigers eighth inning at Yankee Stadium Sunday in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series. Robinson Cano, in his own slump could not change it and neither could Yankees manager Joe Girardi.

But the call with two outs, that led to a two- run Detroit Tigers inning leads to questions about expanding the instant replay rule in baseball, and the continuing failure of the Yankees to hit and score runs.

Replay is another issue that may have to eventually be dealt with. For now, as the Yankees head to Detroit, trailing 2-0 in the best of seven series, their backs are against the wall and Girardi may be out of answers.

There is no telling what the result would have been had the Cano call at second to get Omar Infante went differently. With the Yankees bats going sour at the wrong time, that comeback seen so often in the Bronx during that four-time championship reign has been a futility.

But that call also opened the door for two more Tigers runs. And a one-run game may have been easier for the Yankees to overcome in the eighth inning than trailing by three.

“We have to make adjustments,” said Girardi about his team with a .205 batting average in seven post season games with the Baltimore Orioles and Tigers. “We are more than capable of scoring runs. We have done it before.”

It may mean Girardi sits Nick Swisher and his four hits in 26 at bats, along with eight strikeouts in the post season. Cano, batting .083 is hard to comprehend. However, this was a continuing problem for the Yankees the entire season with a few spurts of enthusiasm coming from their bats in late August and September.

“There is nothing you can do but keep your approach,” commented Cano who batted at a .615 clip at the end of the season. The funk now has him hitless in 26 at bats in the post season, whether or not he is hitting the ball and not getting the hit.

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): STUNNED!

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): STUNNED!: Yanks Shut Out by Tigers; Fall to 0-2 in ALCS By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, October 15- The Yanks now have their work cut out for them...

STUNNED!

Yanks Shut Out by Tigers; Fall to 0-2 in ALCS

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, October 15- The Yanks now have their work cut out for them after being shut out by the Tigers, 3-0, to fall to 0-2 in the ALCS. The two teams will now travel to Detroit to play games three and four and, if necessary, game five. If the Yankees fail to win two of the three, their season will end. If they manage the near impossible task on the road, the two clubs will return to the Bronx to play game seven in Yankee Stadium next Saturday night.

As most of the post-season contests in which the Yankees have played this year, the starting pitchers easily handled the opposing hitters they faced. Hiroki Kuroda pitched with short rest, three days between starts, for the first time in his career in the majors.

The hurler from Japan must not have found the effort too taxing as he retired the first 15 Tiger batters. He fanned seven of the first nine he faced. Jhonny Peralta’s single to lead off the sixth ended Kuroda’s bid for a perfect game and no-hitter.

The first run of the game was scored in the top of the seventh. Quinton Berry doubled and crossed the plate after a single to right by Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera.

After striking out two batters to begin the eighth, four straight singles and a walk led to two runs. Kuroda left the game after 7.2 innings with 11 K’s and five hits. Although all three runs scored were allotted to Kuroda, relief pitchers Boone Logan and Joba Chamberlain each yielded a single that drove in a run.

Starter Anibal Sanchez and those who followed him to the mound collectively kept the Yanks scoreless. The righty gave up three scattered hits in seven frames. Mark Teixeira doubled with two out in the first. Nick Swisher singled with two gone in the second. Raúl Ibañez led off the fourth with a single.

The only other base hit for the Yanks was a single with two out in the ninth.

Detroit’s veteran skipper Jim Leyland commented on the two starters, “I think that both starting pitchers were absolutely terrific.”

According to the batting of the Yanks in the post-season, the name Bronx Bombers is outdated. Although Alex Rodriguez has received the brunt of the jeers from the fans in attendance for obtaining 3 hits in 23 at bats including 12 strikeouts without a run batted in the first seven post-season games, he is not alone in lack of success.

Robinson Cano has two hits in 32 at bats. He has been without a hit in his last 26 at bats, a single post-season record. Nick Swisher has four hits in 26 at bats. In 26 at bats, Curtis granderson has hit safely on three times. He has fanned 13 times. Russell Martin has hit safely five times in 26 ay bats. Eric Chavez has yet to get a hit in 11 times at bat.

The Yanks and Tigers will move to Comerica Park in Detroit for the next two or three games, depending on whether or not the Tigers can sweep the series. The difficulty will be intensified by the absence of Yankees captain Derek Jeter. The injured shortstop was batting .333 in the 2012 post-season.

To make matters worse, Tiger ace Justin Verlander will start in game #3 against Phil Hughes.

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Jeter is Done for the Season!

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Jeter is Done for the Season!: Yankees say they will move on By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, October 14- Now the question is can the New York Yankees survive and win the...