Sabathia gets a needed win

Yankees Sweep Sox

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 5- New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi said he needed the ace CC Sabathia to go deep into the game Wednesday night in the Bronx against the Chicago White Sox. If New York has any hopes of continuing their September run for an AL wild card spot, and baseball to be played in October, they need Sabathia to give them innings on the mound.

“He gave us distance,” commented Girardi about his ace after the Yankees 6-5 win and three-game sweep over the White Sox at Yankee Stadium.

Sabathia (13-11) allowed three runs in 7.1 innings on five hits. He walked and struck out four. It was his longest outing since August 7th at Chicago, and he remained undefeated in seven career starts against the White Sox. It was not dominating, but an outing Sabathia was looking for.

And the Yankees were certainly content with the outing by their ace who has struggled. Winning the fourth time in his last five starts, Sabathia had overall good command of his fastball and this may have been his best outing of the five.

More importantly, for Sabathia, winning games again has come at the right time as the Yankees have put themselves in the hunt for a post season wild card spot in the American league.

The Yankees improved to 5-1 on their current 10-game home stand, and are 11-games over .500 for the first time since June 9th as they await a crucial four-game series with first place Boston that begins in the Bronx Thursday night.

And the Yankees are aware of the task ahead.

“It’s extremely important, it’s a tough series,” commented Girardi. 

The four games will not determine first place in the AL east. New York trailed Boston by eight games in the division starting play Wednesday night, and any significant amount of losses with 23 games remaining could end hopes of a wild card spot.    

Sabathia got off to another shaky start in the first inning as the White Sox took the early 1-0 lead. Avisail Garcia doubled to right that scored Gordon Beckham who singled. It was the 18th time in 29 starts this season that Sabathia has allowed the first run in a game.

“It feels good especially the way I have been battling and helping the team win,” said Sabathia about the win. He said about that the first inning, “Did not have the command but made the pitches he needed to.” The pitches he needed caused the White Sox to not score another run until Sabathia was lifted in the eighth inning.

Over the years though, the White Sox are one of the teams that Sabathia has handled well on the mound. He improved to 19-4 with a 3.63 ERA in 33 career rtlitng and starts against them, the highest career winning percentage against Chicago among active American League pitchers.

Robinson Cano, 3-for-4 got the run back for Sabathia with a first inning home run, his 26th of the season that went deep to left. The 203rd of his career surpassed Bill Dickey for sole possession of 15th place on the Yankees’ all-time home run list. A Brett Gardner two-run triple, seventh extra base hit in his last eight at bats, in the fourth, added to the lead 4-1.

After giving up three hits going into the eighth inning, Sabathia gave up consecutive hits with one out. After 111- pitches he was lifted for David Robertson. The White Sox would get to Robertson who allowed four runs, two inherited from Sabathia, including a two-run single to Josh Phegley, and a hit to Marcus Semien that cut the Yankees lead to 6-5.

”I stunk out there today,” said Robertson who has been reliable with an ERA of 1.88. 

Robertson would leave with two outs as Girardi went to Mariano Rivera with the tying run at second. The all-time saves leader got Alejandro De Aza looking at a 90-mile cutter to end the inning. It would turn out to be a four-out save for Rivera as he retired all three batters in the ninth.

It was Rivera’s first four-out save since July 24, 2011 against the Oakland A’s, and 41st of the season.

“We are still fighting,” said Rivera about the urgency of rescuing Robertson and the Yankees playoff push.

Now it’s the Red Sox and another series of important baseball games being played in September, a total of 11-games also with Baltimore that will in all probability decide if the Yankees make it to October.

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

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Cold Case Closed

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Cold Case Closed: Monster Gets Life for Stangling Mother and Child 20 Years Ago BRONX, NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 4- District Attorney Robert T. Johnson annou...

Cold Case Closed

Monster Gets Life for Stangling Mother and Child 20 Years Ago

BRONX, NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 4- District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced that Robert Fleming has been sentenced to a maximum term of up to life imprisonment for the strangulation murders of a 27-year-old mother and her 9-year-old daughter in February 1988.

A jury convicted Fleming, 49, on two counts of murder in the second degree, on July 31, 2013 following a four-week trial before Acting State Supreme Court Justice Margaret Clancy. Fleming was found guilty on two counts of intentional murder in the deaths of Selina Cooper and her daughter Joi Little. Prior to the murders Fleming and Cooper had been involved in a brief relationship.

Justice Clancy sentenced Fleming to two consecutive terms of 25 years to life in prison making Fleming ineligible for parole until he has served at least 50 years.

The murders occurred during the alleged commission of rape, sodomy and other sexual offenses against the victims, however Fleming could not be charged with the sex crimes because they had occurred beyond the statute of limitations. The victims’ bodies were found in a bedroom at Cooper’s apartment on East 174^th Street in the Morris Heights section of the Bronx.

Fleming was not arrested and charged with the murders until 20 years later in February 2009 following years of investigative work by NYPD Detectives assigned to the Cold Case Squad. In 2001, following advances in DNA technology, semen samples from the bloody sheets on the bed where the bodies were found were tested and found to be a match for Fleming’s DNA profile which had been uploaded to the New York State DNA databank (CODIS) as a result of his conviction on an unrelated crime. Two years later investigators tested vaginal swabs taken from the victims which had never been tested. Those swabs produced DNA from semen which also matched Fleming’s DNA that was recovered from the bloody sheets. While Fleming spent time in and out of prison for unrelated crimes, detectives continued investigating the 1988 double homicide seeking additional evidence. Fleming was indicted by the grand jury in January 2009.

District Attorney Johnson thanked Senior Assistant District Attorney Nancy Borko, Assistant District Attorney Brenna Zortman and Detective Wendell Stradford of the NYPD Cold Case Squad for their efforts in the successful prosecution of this case.

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Summer’s Over But Bullets Still Flying

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Summer’s Over But Bullets Still Flying: Residents on Edge as Bloody Mayhem Continues By David Greene BRONX, NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 4- The NYPD's own statistics show that the c...

Summer’s Over But Bullets Still Flying

Residents on Edge as Bloody Mayhem Continues

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 4- The NYPD's own statistics show that the city is on pace to have the lowest murder rate in the last 50 years, but that offers little comfort to family members of those killed or wounded by the almost daily, random street violence.

Detectives are still hunting the gunman who shot and killed Raymond Hernandez, 22, who was shot in the hallway of 2860 Grand Concourse on July 15.

On August 3, officers from the 46th Precinct reported a person shot and killed at 2377 Creston Avenue. Police were looking for two black males seen fleeing the scene.

Kahleed Adams had returned to the ruff and tumble streets of Fordham Heights where he was shot in the buttocks a week earlier. At 12:30 a.m. on August 19, he was approached by a group of men at E. 184 Street and Morris Avenue, when someone opened fire, striking Adams in the head.

Despite being in full view of an NYPD surveillance camera, installed after Adams was shot the first time, detectives continue to hunt for the young man's killer.

But the most blood-spilling, effecting the most people are the random acts of violence that often go unreported. Information can now be found on social media websites as the community seems to be trying to keep itself informed, but rumors continue to be almost as big a problem as the violence itself.

Officers from the 52nd Precinct responded to calls of a person stabbed at 12:10 a.m. on August 3. The victim was reportedly stabbed at the intersection of Morris Avenue and E. Kingsbridge Road. Police were looking for a black male wearing a white and gray shirt and dark jeans. 

At 7 p.m. on August 4, a livery taxi driver was stabbed in the chest an neck as he sat behind the wheel at Bainbridge Avenue and E. Fordham Road. An unidentified resident of the block reportedly tossed a large rock at the car, causing the suspect to flee the stolen car.

Police reportedly discovered Luis Ferrierra, 22, hiding in a backyard. He has since been charged with felony assault and robbery--his eighth arrest for 2013.

When asked about the member of the community tossing the rock, one resident responded, "This area is flooded with crack and crime and I think the residents are fed up with it already." 

Residents near PS 8 at Mosholu Parkway South and Bainbridge Avenue reported hearing shots during the night of Friday, August 9.. Residents awoke the following morning to discover a bloody park bench. So far the incident remains a mystery.

At just before 11 p.m. on Sunday, August 11, a person was reported shot at E. Gun Hill Road and Decatur Avenue. However, this incident could not be confirmed.

Police say it was a drug dealer who shot a potential customer on August 13, outside of 2685 Valentine Avenue in Bedford Park. The 31-year old victim was shot in the left hand and right thigh and was treated and released from Jacobi Hospital.

That gunman was described as a male wearing a white shirt and blue hat.

On August 15, Yonkers police were apparently in pursuit of a vehicle that crashed as it exited the Major Deegan near the Van Cortlandt Park Golf Course, the armed suspect reportedly fired at least one shot at pursuing officers before making an escape into the woods.

On August 16 three people were shot over the period of two-hours. At 12:15 a.m. a victim was discovered inside of a building at 2725 Webb Avenue. The 19-year old victim had been shot in the hand and leg and was expected to survive.

Residents of the Fordham Manor block that intersects with W. Kingsbridge Road don't even flinch when they hear gunshots anymore. The block has had two other recent shooting's. A 51-year old man was shot in the arm back in April and two men were shot outside of a bodega on July 28.

Police were still looking for the gunman in the July 28 case, described as wearing all red and carrying a black plastic bag.

Forty-five minutes later officer's from the 46th Precinct in Fordham were called to another 24-hour deli at 375 E. 188 Street. The victim in that shooting was transported by a civilian vehicle to Jacobi Hospital and was also recovering.

At just before 2 a.m., a man was wounded outside of 2258 Grand Avenue in University Heights. The 25-year old victim suffered a gunshot to the right leg and was taken to St. Barnabas Hospital where he was treated and released.

EMS reported the transport of a stabbing victim from the intersection of the Grand Concourse and E. 197 Street at just before 10 p.m. on August 17.

At some time after 4 a.m. on Sunday, August 18, a man was shot in the leg outside of 275 E. Gun Hill Road. The unidentified victim was transported to a nearby hospital in stable condition. Police were reportedly looking for two male Hispanics who fled the scene.

Recently police did announce an arrest in the May 29 shooting of Alex Rodriguez, who was shot in the head at the intersection of E. 184 Street and Tiebout Avenue in Fordham Heights. Rodriguez died after being taken off life support.

Jamie DeJesus has been charged with manslaughter in the case.

Outspoken Bedford Park resident Ron James Sorenson who was shot as a young man as he drove a livery taxi in the South Bronx back in the late 1960's, recently stated about the judge's recent decision to re-evaluate the NYPD's stop-and-frisk, offering, "None of these people who are against stop-and-frisk have ever been shot. I have and I think the practice saves lives."

Despite the recent surge in killing, NYPD statistics show murder is down over the same time period as last year. So far this year there were 42 homicides in the Bronx, compared with 68 last year.

Community Board # 7 is still in a transition as it's new District Manager Socrates Caba and Chairperson Adaline Walker-Santiago are in the process of taking over the day to day operations of the board. But a blind man can see they have their work cut out for them.

Anyone with any information on any violent crime are asked to call CrimeStoppers at 1 (800) 577-TIPS. 

Comeback Kids

Yanks 5 Run 8th Results in 6-4 Win over White Sox

You Know You're Bad When A-Rod's Hitting Off You

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 4- For the second time in less than one month, pitchers Hiroki Kuroda and Chris Sale started a game versus one another. On August 6 at U.S. Cellular Field, both hurlers pitched effectively, but Sale earned the win and Kuroda the loss in a 3-2 White Sox win.

In that contest, Sale gave up only one unearned run and five hits in 7.1 innings while Kuroda yielded three runs and nine hits in seven.

The two starters have been travelling in different directions since that day. Before Wednesday’s game began, Sale had won four of the last five, lasted at least seven innings in each contest and yielded only more than three runs in the loss.

On the other hand, Kuroda lost four of five, lasted fewer than seven frames in three games and surrendered at least three in each of the defeats.

One circumstance the two capable hurlers share is the lack of run support they have received from their teammates in 2013. Sale is third lowest in the majors with an average support of only 3.19 per game. Chicago scored a total of 14 runs in Sale’s 12 losses and was shut out in five of those games.

Kuroda’s support from his teammates is barely higher. He has a run support average off 3.26. The Yanks scored 18 runs in the 10 games in which Kuroda received a loss and were shut out twice.

The lack of run support has given both distorted won/loss marks as each has an ERA of less than three runs per nine innings.

Their performances on Wednesday night appeared to follow the recent pattern. Kuroda gave up four runs in 6.1 innings on the mound.

Second sacker Gordon Beckham doubled in the first and scored on a single by Adam Dunn.

Alexi Ramirez hit a two-run triple in the fifth and Alejando De Aza, the last batter Kuroda faced, blasted a solo home run in the seventh.

The only run scored off Sale, while he was still on the mound, was greatly aided by the inept fielding of the White Sox infielders. Vernon Wells beat out an infield single with one out. He moved ahead thanks to two Chicago infield errors and scored on the front end of a double steal.

After Sale fanned Brett Gardner in the bottom of the eighth, the end result seemed near to many. Those without faith in the revamped Yankee lineup were in for a big surprise.

Derek Jeter singled and was followed by Robinson Cano, who doubled. Manager Robin Ventura removed his ace. Although Sale had thrown 114 pitches, he exceeded that amount in eight previous starts this year.

The Yankee offense was only beginning the damage that would continue against three Chicago relievers that inning. Alfonso Soriano doubled in two runs off Nate Jones. The two earned runs were added to the account of Sale. Alex Rodriguez followed with a single and pinch hitter Curtis Granderson tied the game with a single. With two out, Eduardo Nuñez drove in the winning runs with a double.

Mariano Rivera retired the side in the ninth to earn his 40th save. Rivera, annoyed by questions asking if he had changed his mind regarding retirement, spoke about the importance of the result of the contest, “We won. That’s the most important thing. It was a big game for us.”

The win was the Yanks eighth of their last nine home games. The White Sox are now 0-5 in their current road trip.

The Yanks hope to sweep the three game series on Thursday evening with C.C. Sabathia (12-11) starting against Erik Johnson, who will be making his major league debut.

Bronx News Sports: Girardi may have to bypass Hughes for Huff in rota...

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