Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Bronx Stands with Boston

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Bronx Stands with Boston: Yankees Pay homage Boston (Photos by Gary Quintal) By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, April 17- So many ways Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium ...

Bronx Stands with Boston

Yankees Pay homage Boston

(Photos by Gary Quintal)

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, April 17- So many ways Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium there were reminders of how sports and baseball play a role to heal wounds. This time, a day after the Boston Marathon bombing that took three lives and injured over 180, there were the Arizona Diamondbacks, Jackie Robinson and number 42, plus a Fenway Park tradition, “Sweet Caroline.”

Yes, a tune that has been an eighth inning ritual of Red Sox nation came to the Bronx. Boston was in Cleveland and the Red Sox heard what the Yankees were doing to unite two cities who have shared in pain.

“It was such a tragic day,” said Kevin Youkilis, the former Red Sox player who now wears Yankees pinstripes. He would play in the Patriots league game at Fenway over the years, and venture off to the finish line viewing another conclusion of the annual Boston Marathon.

On a day off in New York City Monday, Youkilis spent numerous hours on the phone to see if friends and family were okay that make it a ritual on Patriots Day and attend the marathon. His wife and sisters have run in the event over the years.

Monday it was friends and a city, Boston, the only baseball organization Youkilis knew prior to wearing pinstripes. The Yankee Stadium electronic board outside displayed, “United We Stand” with Yankees and Red Sox logos and a ribbon on the big scoreboard inside displayed insignias of the teams and a message, “New York stands with Boston….Pray for Boston.”

“It gave me chills and was emotional to me to hear that,” commented Youkilis about the playing of “Sweet Caroline” after the third inning. “Because the fans were into it and it was cool.  Thought it was very special and a very great tribute to an organization that is a rivalry.”

A rivalry, New York and Boston that has diminished over the past few years, but when fans at Yankee Stadium are wearing Boston caps and jerseys near the pinstripes, there is a meaning of unity and emotion. It happened in the Bronx Tuesday night.

As was the meaning of wearing number 42 on Jackie Robinson Night as players, the managers, coaches and umpires did. Major League Baseball once again paid tribute to Jackie Robinson. And a player named “Robinson” Cano had the big three-run home run. The final score was 4-2, as in “42” and the lone remaining player who wears the number, Mariano Rivera saved a game for the last time on Robinson’s day.

Yes, it was an emotional and special night in the Bronx. The Diamondbacks made their first trip to the new Yankee Stadium.  They were 1-5 at the old ballpark across the street, and Rivera was the pitcher on the mound in that emotional World Series won by Arizona in Game 7 at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix back in 2001.

That World Series ended in early November because the baseball schedule was pushed back with the events of September 11. It was a series that helped mend the wounds of a nation still mourning the effects of a devastating terrorist attack.

“We’re all behind the people of Boston,” said Yankees manager Joe Girardi prior to the start of the game Tuesday night. And for a night Yankee fans united with Red Sox fans.

Because baseball and sports, the world of fun and games has a way of bringing that message of unity in a time of tragedy.

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Cano, Yanks Honor Jackie Robinson with Win

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Cano, Yanks Honor Jackie Robinson with Win: (Photo by Gary Quintal) By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, April 17- The statistics registered during the game played between the Yankees a...

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Cano, Yanks Honor Jackie Robinson with Win

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Cano, Yanks Honor Jackie Robinson with Win: (Photo by Gary Quintal) By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, April 17- The statistics registered during the game played between the Yankees a...

Cano, Yanks Honor Jackie Robinson with Win

(Photo by Gary Quintal)

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, April 17- The statistics registered during the game played between the Yankees and Diamondbacks at Yankee Stadium on April 16 were extremely appropriate for a Jackie Robinson Day contest. The enduring legacy of Robinson’s achievement in integrating the national pastime has been celebrated at every ballpark in the majors on April 15 or the date of the next home game since 1997, the 50^th anniversary of Robinson’s first game in the majors.

On Tuesday night, April 16, every player, coach, manager and umpire on the field at Yankee Stadium wore Robinson’s #42. In a short ceremony held before the game began, two of the 1,400 scholarship recipients from the Jackie Robinson Foundation were recognized.

Arizona reached the scoreboard first, scoring two runs in the top of the third. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases. A fly ball to center by catcher Miguel Montero was the first out of the inning, but also drove in the first run of the contest. The next batter, Cody Ross, singled to knock in the second run.

After leaving the bases loaded in each of the first two innings, the Yankees took the lead in the fourth. The first two batters, Lyle Overbay and Chris Stewart, singled to left. Robinson Cano, named in honor of Jackie Robinson, homered to right to score three runs, which were sufficient to ensure the Yankee victory.

Not only does Cano’s given name honor Robinson, but he wears #24, the reverse of Jackie’s #42, now retired on all clubs by Major League Baseball, to represent the debt he feels he owes to the Brooklyn Dodger legend,

Cano, batting a healthy .326 in his 12 games this season is currently on a tear. He is batting .500 (13 for 26) in his most recent six games. Seven of his 12 hits were for extra bases, four doubles and four home runs. He has driven in 11 runs in that span. That the Yankees have won five of those six contests was noted by reporters and Yankees manager Joe Girardi, who after the game commented, “When he got hot, we got going. He doesn’t take it for granted that he’s a good player. Robbie works very hard.”

After loading the bases in the bottom of the seventh, a fly ball by Eduardo Nuñez drove in the final run of the game, making the score an appropriate 4-2.

Mariano Rivera, the only major league player currently wearing #42, entered the game in the ninth frame. As expected Rivera retired all three batters he faced to earn his third save of 2013 and the record setting #611 in his renowned career. Girardi quipped to reporters, “It’s kind of funny seeing #42 facing three #42’s.”

Yankees ace CC Sabathia (2-1) will face undefeated Wade Miley (2-0) in game two of the series on Wednesday night.

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Child Caused Blaze that Injured 50-Officials Say

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Child Caused Blaze that Injured 50-Officials Say: (Photo by David Greene) By David Greene BRONX, NEW YORK, April 15- Nearly 50 residents and first responders were injured when a fire se...

Child Caused Blaze that Injured 50-Officials Say

(Photo by David Greene)

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, April 15- Nearly 50 residents and first responders were injured when a fire sent billowing black smoke into the hallways and apartments of a high-rise apartment building in Melrose. 

The fire broke out inside a 5th-floor apartment at 225 E. 149 Street, at 7:45 a.m., on April 13. Nearly 150 firefighters battled the 3-alarm blaze for two hours as firefighters and paramedics carried many of the victims down the stairs of the 27-story building operated by Pinnacle Realty. 

When firefighters arrived, a father had dangled a baby out of the window of a 25th-floor apartment. Several injured remain in critical condition, but all are expected to survive. 

FDNY fire marshals have determined that a child playing with a lighter was the source of the blaze.