Red Sox come to town to clinch the AL East division title: delayed by Yankee win 6-4

El Bronx, NY. The Boston Red Sox came to the Bronx having won its last 11 games and 16 of last 19. With a 12th consecutive win in the first game of their last 3-game series at the stadium, they would clinch the Easter Division Title of the American League. Yankees delay this goal by winning 6-4.

9/11: Bad Omen for the Yankees?

Since that date, the Yankees in their last 15 games managed a 4-11 won-lost record. Then only 3 games back in the division, they sunk to 12 games back in this bad stretch. They are eliminated from the division race. They trail Baltimore by 5 games for the second AL Wild Card and losing 2 games will totally eliminate them from the postseason.

After having gone hitless in his last 3 consecutive games, Gary Sanchez returned to form by belting the first pitch from left-hander BoSox starter David Price over the left-center field fence for his 20th homerun of the season. It is his 51st game and ties him with Wally Berger as the fastest players in baseball history to hit 20 home runs. This also advances his chance to become Rookie of the Year.

The Yankees starting pitcher Luis Cessa is a 24-year-old right-hander who becomes the 4th Mexican-born to pitch for the Yankees -- something either Donald Trump does not know, or would deny.     

On the top of the sixth Boston scored its first run on an infield hit, the runner reaching second on an errant throw to first by Luis Cessa covering the ball. The runner scored on Dustin Pedroia grounder-single up the middle. The next batter, Short Stop Xander Bogarts, doubled putting runners on second and third for David Ortiz, hitless in two previous at-bats. Fans who acknowledged his impending retirement --- gave cheers, while others their resounding boos. The mighty Ortiz gave the fans something to cheer about as he struck out.

All bets would then have been on Mookie Betts, the Boston cleanup hitter with a 12-game hitting streak behind him. He hit a hard grounder to second allowing for the Red Sox second run of the inning to score from third.  Hanley Ramirez the next batter struck out and Cessa got of further trouble.

The Yankees got the run back on Didi Gregorius 20th home run of the season.

Seventh inning: Boston ties game then Yankees pull ahead.

Luis Cessa (6Inn, 5H, 1BB, 2K was replaced by LHP Tommy Lane who surrendered a home run to pinch-hitter Aaron Hill, the first batter he faced on the top of the seventh. With a runner on second and two outs, pesky Dustin Pedroia singled to right tying the game at 4-4. Luis Cessa would not win this game. Would that Presidential contender rejoice? 

RHP Blake Parker replaced Lane, gave up a hit to Xander Bogarts and then faced David Ortiz. He grounded out for the final out. But in the bottom of the seventh, after Austin Romine singles, Tyler Austin hit his fourth home run of the season to return the lead to the Yankees. David Price who started the bottom of the 7th in hopes to reach his 18th victory of the season is removed from the game with one out in the inning. Price's line: 6.1 Innings, 12 Hits, 6 runs, 1 walk and only 2 strikeouts.

Who closes?

With Dellin Betances going through some woes and perhaps some overuse, the top of the ninth was given to Tyler Clippard to face the bottom of the Boston lineup, but with Boston's potent lineup, this was not a cakewalk, but maybe a little in Yankee Stadium. Clippard struck out the first batter then allowed a double and a walk to the next batters allowing David Ortiz to try once again hurt the Yankees. The third such opportunity in the game. But with two strikes, two outs, the Mighty Ortiz...the count reached 3 balls and 2 strikes ...The Mighty Ortiz struck out.

Boston on a humid night dampen Yankee hopes for the post-season 9-4

El Bronx -- On a hot early September muggy evening  in the Bronx a Red Sox-Yankees faceoff took place - well, not really as it was  just another game in a not 'that type of a season' for these two teams; the Red Sox with no hope (had dropped 11 of their last 15 games) and the Yankees whose hope for the post-season gets dimmer with regular play drawing to an end.  

The Yankees found themselves in second place  8.5 games behind Baltimore; the Sox 19.5 games behind and dead last in the AL East. Yet they trounced the Yankees 9-4 and the lost was the third in a row for New York.

The Yankees entering the game with just 5 more games won than they have lost can't seem to put a sustained long winning streak together as they struggle to score runs. If catching up with Baltimore for first place in the AL East is just wishful thinking the second Wild Card is an outside possibility.  

Both teams are last and next to last in runs scored.

In this contest, the Red Sox after 4 innings were playing like their 2013 championship  season with 3 home runs and a 7-1 lead over the Yankees whose only hit up to then was a Marin Prado home run. 

The Yankees had won each of Greene's last five starts. He  has left the game with the Yankees leading or tied in eight of his nine starts. Greene was  unbeaten in his last six starts, allowing 3ER or fewer in each of those outings.  In his last four starts (since 8/7), Greene is 2-0 with a 2.42 ERA (26.0IP, 7ER, 7BB, 30K) but today he just lasted 2.2 innings allowing 6 runs on 6 hits while walking and striking out 3 batters. Certainly a bad outing for a team running out of time; for a team needing to win every day.

Skipper Joe Girardi said of Shane Green's performance: "I just don't think he had his location and he got into some bad counts ... he got into some long at bats as well."

A bottom of fifth mix up and the Yankees miss out on possibly scoring more than 2 runs.

Carlos Beltrán singled to center and Brian McCann laid down a bunt up the third base line where no infielder was playing due to the shift . Then  Martin Prado hit a ball over the left fielder, the Cubano Yoenis  Cespedes. But Carlos Beltrán stayed close to second base instead of half way between the bases and thus just managed to reach third while McCann just got to second.

Prado running a double all the way got to second  where he discovered McCann was standing.  Prado had no chance in getting back to first base and was tagged out. The next batter, Yankees third baseman Chase Headley walked to load the bases and catcher Francisco Cervelli also walked to force in a run.

After Jacoby Ellsbury made the second out, Derek Jeter hit a grounder to the short stop whose throw to first was called an out by the umpire. The play was challenged and Jeter was ruled safe with an infield single and an RBI for the Yankees second run of the inning.

With the bases still loaded Brett Gardner looked at a third strike and wound up being thrown out of the game for expressing his displeasure.  (2 Runs, 4 Hits, 3 LOB) 

On the play Beltrán did not position himself between second and third to score on the Prado double, it may well be that Beltrán thought Cespedes would get to the ball and the reputation he has of a rifle accurate arm may have stymied Beltrán, but on the other hand, Prado seemed to run with his head down thinking his blast was good for a double.

Both teams scored on the ninth. Boston on a Cespedes triple followed by a Napoli sacrifice fly and the Yankees on a homerun by McCann.

Can the Yankees with respectable pitching still get to the post season with a miracle run in September?  

Article written for Latino Sports and an edited vesion www.latinosports.com

Tampa on a sweep; Yanks on to weep with 5-game losing streak prior to 11-game road trip preceding All-Star Game

El Bronx, NY - As the team leaves New York for an 11-game road trip before  the All-Star Game (No Baseball in el Bronx for 15 days) they've lost 5 in a row and fell under .500 ball. Tampa on the other hand leaves with 5 straight victories.

The Yankees began the game with four straight loses and an even record at 41-41 on a hot steamy clear afternoon at the Stadium. Scoring runs have been an issue. Power numbers down and batting averages are low in the heart of the batting order.  To boot, Mark Teixeira and Jacoby Ellsbury were not in the lineup.

The Yankees starting pitcher has been, after RHP Masahiro Tanaka, somewhat mediocre, yet the bullpen has been its strength and helps explains at least their staying  in the mix when other teams in the division are also struggling. 

Bret Gardner scored the first run of the game on the bottom of the 1st inning leading off with a homerun (8).

Two additional hits by catcher Brian McCann and Designated hitter  Carlos Beltrán followed  a Derek Jeter fly-out to center, but the next two outs stranded those runners on base. In all, the Yankees would leave 9 runners stranded on base.

Tampa tied the game on the top of the 3rd on a walk and a two base hit by DH Ben Zobrist putting runners on second and third, followed by Brian MaCann letting a pitch by Vida Nuño get pass him thus allowing the runner on third to score.

But the Yankees  -- and one may say MaCann -- got a run back in their bottom of the 3rd when he hit towering homerun (10)to right.

On the top of the 4th the Rays scored a run to tie the game on successive hits: second baseman Logan Forsyth doubled  followed by Sean Rodriguez single who was thrown out on second trying to stretch it into a double while the run scored. The play was challenged but the out was upheld.

For a third time the Yankees retake the lead  -- on a mini rally at best: a hit by Alfonso Soriano, a walk to Ichiro Suzuki and after two successive outs, Brett Gardner bounced a ground ball single under the glove of Tampa first baseman James Loney scoring Soriano for the Yankee's third run.

On the top of the 5th, on what up to then seemed to be one for you and one for me see-saw scoring game, Tampa tied the game for the third time: a  runner was thrown out at the plate by Brett Garnder on a hit by Branden Guyer that scored the front runner of previous single and double. 

In the bottom of the 5th, the Yankees went down in order. Tampa began its top of the 6th with a hit by Logan Forsythe, his second of the game and this was all for Yankee's starter Vidal Nuño.

Skipper Joe Girardi bought in reliever Shawn Kelly. Well, Tampa shortstop Sean Rodriguez  greeted him with a 2-run home run (8) to deep left center field, allowing Tampa to take a 5-3 lead.

Tampa plated another run on the top of the ninth on a bases loaded grounder to first baseman Kelly Johnson  who could not come up with the ball cleanly to throw home for a force out. On the other hand, Tampa relievers kept the Yankees scoreless for 5 innings after the 4th. With two outs, runners were left in scoring position by Alfonso Soriano,  Derek Jeter, Kelly Johnson and Yangervis Solarte. Yet the Yankees dished out 10 hits (to Tampa's 12)

The Yankees  began with a good 17-3 record when leading after the first inning, but this was not going to be one of them.  Somehow in the upcoming road-trip the Yankees need to make a statement -- one that will carry over to the post-All Star hot days of summer.

Final Rays 6, Yankees 3

WP: Jake Odorizzi (4-7)

LP: Vidal Nuño (2-5)

SV: Brad Boxberger (1)

Cuban players in MLB increasing in numbers

San Juan, Puerto Rico -- maybe it is a sign of what's now possible within Cuba, but more importantly, what can become regarding  the relations between the U.S. its beleaguered neighbor. As a preview, in the world of baseball: there are now 19 Cubans in MLB rosters.

Regarding the first scenario, 'El Duque' Orlando Hernandez's wife and children were allowed by the Cuban government to unite with him while still on the Yankees, and after his illustrious career in the 'Big Show'  ended, El Duque returned to visit his native land. Quite a difference when one considers he was once banned from Cuban baseball in his native land after being detained by Cuban State Security, and interrogated on a relationship to an American Sports agent. Returning to the independent island-nation is now possible for many Cuban players; it does show a change of the times: the once tight governmental control in Cuba has been evolving to something else; only now the ending of the U.S. embargo (because most players would like to return home, yes, with money)  can determine if Cuba continues its path of being the next source of Latino baseball players after the Dominican Republic (83), Venezuela (59)and a distance third from Puerto Rico (17). and the few from other Latin American countries.

Last season had 15 Cubans in MLB rosters and with this year's 19, after the two biggest Latin American countries cited above, Cuba has become a country with the most players born outside the U.S.  Puerto Rico, neither a state nor an independent nation, comes in fourth place.

As of this writing an outstanding Cuban player making headlines has been Chicago White Sox first baseman José Abreu who played for Cienfuegos in the Cuban League and was an integral member of its national team. He has been the American League's homerun and RBI leader. Abreu led both leagues in both departments until Giancarlo Stanton surpassed him in Runs Batted In recently.

In October of 2013 Chicago offered José Abreu a 68 million 5-year contract. Chicago management  must be glad on its investment return; after the first 30 games in 2014 , José Abreu has 11 homers and 33 RBI -- both a record for a rookie in that span of time beginning a season. Yet he struck out 28 times and walked only 9 times, but all things being equal, or is it considered? --  his great start offers a glimpse of what Abreu can accomplish if he stays free of injury for the long haul ahead.

In addition to José Abreu, the White Sox have 3 more Cubans that at times may be in the same lineup: Catcher Adrián Nieto, outfielder Dayán Viciedo and its regular shortstop Alexei Ramirez (batting .328).

From the L.A. Dodgers we have the colorful Yasiel Puig, only 23 years old, (.309 BA) who started lukewarm but began to pick up his game.

The Miami Marlins feature another José, Fernandez (4-1 with a 1.74 ERA) who has become a thorn in the side of the Atlanta 'Braves;' in one game he punched out 14 of these miss-named team batters and has beaten Atlanta twice this season, both times by a score of 1-0 on eight innings each time. Fernandez was named the National League Pitcher of the Month for April.

And on and on. So, reader, if you know something, say something about any of these 19 Cuban players including how they made their way to MLB from the Caribbean island the U.S. would love to ....(Okay, I am for ending the U.S. Embargo, but Latinos Sports is tolerant of other point of views as long as it is civil).

The above article is partially an adaptation from an El Nuevo Día newspaper "Ponen su sazón los cubanos" by Joel Ortiz Rivera;  Sunday, May 4th 20014

Cubans in the Big Leagues

1. Adrián Neto Chicago White Sox

2. Adeiny Hechavarría Miami Marlins

3. Alexander Guerrero LA Dodgers

4. Yosián Herrera LA Angels

5. Dayán Viciedo Chicago White Sox

6. Roenis Elías Seattle Mariners

7. Aroidis Chapman Cincinnati Reds

8. Yasmani Grandal San Diego Padres

9. José Iglesias Detroit Tigers

10. Leonys Martín Texas Rangers

11. Brayan Peña Cincinnati Reds

12. Yonder Alonso San Diego Padres

13. Yunel Escobar Tampa Rays

14. Onelki García LA Dodgers

15. José Abreu Chicago White Sox

16  José Fernández Miami Marlins´

17. Alexei Ramirez Chicago Whiet Sox

18. Yasiel Puig LA Dodgers

19 Yoenis Céspedes  Oakland As

You may also view this article in www.latinosports.com

At age 25, the making of a baseball and Yankee fan

Yankee Stadium, El Bronx, NY -- Tino Ongis went to his first ever game at Yankee Stadium and saw the Yankees beat the Cubs 3-0 behind the 2-hit, 8 innings pitched by Masahiro Tanaka. What makes this worthy of mentioning is that 25 year old Tino (short for Martino) is an Italian visitor to New York, has been to several basketball games, but was waiting for the baseball season to begin before his departure to Bergamo, Italy in early May. 

This writer gave him a crash course on baseball fundamentals after which he said, "Ok, I will remember," and was very excited the days leading to the game.

The game originally was to have taken place on Tuesday evening April 15th, but was rained out, so it became part of a Wednesday double header, and the makeup game was scheduled for the afternoon; it turned out to be an arctic breezy sunny day with temperature at 43 degrees at game time.

Great -- as his anticipation of being there was full of an exuberant enthusiasm that one would only hope would not become a letdown by a fan of fast moving NBA games and soccer back home in Italy.

By mid-game when asked how he thought of the game so far he said, "I really like baseball, I thought I would get bored."

In the first inning he witnessed Carlos Beltran's 4th homer of the season land a few feet below in the famed low porch area in front section 204. Tino had a glove on his left hand even though he is a lefty thrower. The run produced by Carlos Beltran would be the first of 3 runs allowed by Chicago's starter righthander Jason Hammel who would pitch 7 innings of quality ball, only to be outdueled by Tanaka's two-bunt base hits allowed while striking out 10.

Tino was fascinated by the double play Jacoby Ellsbury grounded into in the bottom of the third inning. Not yet far along to be disappointed that his newly adopted team had one of its star players hit into a double play, but the motion set in play to execute it, he found interesting. "I like the structure of the game and I loved how the double-play happened," he observed (I had gone over the play with him after it happened and reminded him of the baseball lesson of what to expect on the field, which included the two revised plays).

After watching this writer look behind to see the speed of Tanaka's delivery on the scoreboard  and other information, Tino began to do likewise to keep track of the ball and strike count and also keep track of Tanaka's strikeouts.

At one point he said that Chicago with two innings to go, would not have a chance, until I told him that in baseball anything is possible. I reviewed the three-outs before a team took the field and the other came to bat and that a team could keep on batting until the 3rd out was recorded in their half inning.

"I really like this game, it is not boring, "Tino repeated several times." And in it there are a lot of actions that are fast."

He watched with anticipation the game ending on the top of the ninth. He inferred that the Yankees did not have to bat if the score remained unchanged. 

At the end, it was obvious Tino was a fan. The cold? "In Italy for a soccer match it is worst."

Waiting to catch the number 4 train, he added, " I would like to come again to the stadium before I return home, maybe the weather will be nice again." Thus we have the making of a new fan, at 25 --and from Italia no less.

To be featured in www.latinosports.com

In The Yard & In The Pen Tidbits: Yankees’ Five Man Rotation’s First Go-Around

Posted by: William Gerena-Rochet on April 6, 2014 in Baseball, Featured  www.latinosports.com

El Barrio, New York - With the 4-0 Yankees loss to Toronto, the positive part of the event was the performance of Michael Pineda as the 5th starter. Thus the five-man rotation went through its first go-around with a 2-3 won-lost record.

RHP Micahel Pineda’s, in his Yankees debut, allowed just 1ER in 6.0IP in taking the loss (5H, 0BB, 5K) and it was his first Major League start since 9/21/11 w/ Seattle at Minnesota. CF

Center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury has shown his star quality and the catalyst he is;  has recorded 3 hits per game for the second straight time this season. So far he is 6-for-16 with 3R, 2 doubles, 3BB and 3 stolen bases in 5 games.

Infielder Yangervis Solarte has multi-hit games in each of his first three career starts (4/3-5), becoming the first Yankee to accomplish the feat since Joe DiMaggio from 5/3-6/36 (also 3G) according to the Elias Sport Bureau. Solarte leads the Yankees this season in hits (7), doubles (3), extra-base hits (3), RBI (4), on-base percentage (.600), slugging percentage (.769) and OPS (1.369).

But the Yankees 7-9 batters have combined to bat .370 (20-for-54) with 8R, 6 doubles, 4RBI and 6BB this season. The glass is half full; half empty.

As it has been noted in the Yankees  second straight victory 7-3, Tanaka  had a few rough moments. Eventually, he settled down and put up zeros from the 3rd to the 7th inning.  With the offense providing 7 runs on 16 hits,  he got the team’s second victory of the young season; he became just the third pitcher in the last 15 seasons (since 2000) to strike out at least  eight batters without allowing any walks in his Major League debut. Tanaka’s line: 7.0IP, 3R, 2ER, 0BB, 8K, 1HR (to ex-Yankee delivery man Melky Cabrera).

The Yankees first victory of the season had RHP Ivan Nova pitch just 5.2 innings, allowing 2ER (6H, 5BB, 1K, 1WP, 2HP) as the relievers (Warren, Kelley and Robertson) combined to toss 3.1 perfect IP (5K). It was a game Yankees 8-9 hitters (Solarte and Suzuki) had five of the team’s seven hits and scored all four Yankees runs.

In the second game of the season  RHP Hiroki Kuroda started and took the loss, allowing 2ER in 6.0IP (3H, 1BB, 5K, 1HR). A quality start by today’s standards, but lacking run support. In the 4-2 defeat, Yankees pitchers allowed just four combined hits (two of which were solo HRs). Yankees batters on the other hand had one extra-base hit (Beltran double) and scored their only run on a double-play groundout in the seventh.

In the season opener C.C. Sabathia LHP CC Sabathia started  and took the 6-2 loss to Houston, allowing 6ER in 6.0IP (8H, 1BB, 6K, 2HR). Seem as if Spring Training did not follow him into the season, but instead showed some of the deficiencies of the 2013 season. Maybe it was just a one-time case of a “Houston, we have a problem.”

He will pitch the final game of the 6 game road trip before the team opens at home next Monday. It would be a 13-game stretch to open the season.  While that number is taboo for some, it wasn’t an issue to one…oh, never mind.

Wouldn’t you know, Yankees batters have not homered in their first five games of the season, but then again, in 5 games, neither has newly Seattle Mariner Robinson Cano.

Data Source: YankeesPressbox.com

Yankees’ Eduardo Nuñez In Limbo: Designated For Assignment. What Does It Mean For Him?

New York, El Barrio - Eduardo Nuñez has possibly lost his opportunity to play for the Yankees. What does the term designated for assignment mean? Sometimes my intent in writing baseball is to educate the would be fan on terms and plays in the game.

Last season, Eduardo could have cemented his role as an everyday player in 2013 when Derek Jeter missed most of the season playing less than 20 games. He was once coveted as Derek Jeter’s replacement at short and prior to trade talks other teams wanted Eduardo in the mix, but the Yankees had him virtually in a ‘no-trade’ list.

While he passed the grade with his offensive ability to some extent, it was always questionable if he was a good defensive infielder.
In a year that promises to be a second in a row celebratory departure for a future hall of famer, last year Mariano Rivera and this year Derek Jeter, Eduardo Nuñez had been bypassed by infielder Yangervis Solarte in the opening season roster.

Now the Yankees have signed Solarte to a Major League contract and selected him to the 25-man roster. And while infielder Brendan Ryan was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a cervical spine nerve injury (retroactive to 3/22), Eduardo was designated for assignment.

So, Wikipedia (I know it has its pros and cons) will tell you that “Designated For Assingment is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball. A player who is designated for assignment is immediately removed from the team’s 40-man roster, after which the team must either:

• return the player to the 40-man roster within 10 days from the date of designation, or
• make one of the following contractual moves:

1. Place the player on waivers (which can only be done within the first 7 days of the 10-day period)
2. Trade the player
3. Release the player
4. Outright the player from the 40-man roster into the Minor Leagues.

With that much said, Eduardo Nuñez can possibly be placed back on the 40-man roster within 10 days, or navigate through waivers. What is that? Well, maybe that will be part 2 of this story as we keep an eye open on Nuñez’s fate within that 10-day period. Those who have gotten to know Nuñez hope that he can move forward to a solid major league career — if not with the Yankees, then with some other team. In the meantime we welcome comments and any clarifications or questions from the reader.

This article was written for Latino Sports and was posted on April 2, 2014

The Murals Speak: Los muros hablan live from Spanish Harlem/El Barrio

Artist Manny Vega, Melissa and La Respuesta 

representatives

A news conference on Monday afternoon was held in front of one of Manny Vega's  murials on East 105 Street and Lexington Avenue, kicking off Los Muros Hablan NYC, an urban artistic and musical series of events (August 19-25, 2013) happening in El Barrio, and one in the South Bronx. There will be a numerous events open to the public.

Puerto Rico's La Respuesta, a leading cultural entity has initiated this collaborative project that features a number of artists from around the world that will paint "spaces into places that promote cultural collaborations, exchange of ideas, dreams, concerns and passions," said Jose Morales Perez, founder of La Respuesta in Santurce, Puerto Rico.

One would appreciate this as a sister project -- one between Puerto Rico and the "great cultural scene present in the historic Puerto Rican neighborhood of El Barrio," as Mr. Moralez-Velez posited

+Melissa Mark-Viverito  said, "From the moment I learned about Los Muros Hablan in Puerto Rico, I knew that we had to bring this unique and dynamic event to El Barrio."

For more information http://www.losmuroshablannyc.com/

Giants finally won a postseason series opener as El Panda reminds Justin Verlander of All Star Game

El Barrio, New York – Justin Verlander whose start and loss in the mid-Summer All Star Game determined that the Fall Classic be played in a National League Park, got roughed up by Pablo Sandovar who would end up matching a postseason record of being just the fourth player to hit three homers in any World Series game. Of the Panda’s three blasts, two came off Justin Verlander who in four innings of work gave up 5 earned runs on six hits. And the Giants finally won a postseason series opener.

The Giants starter Barry Zito, left off the roster in the Giant’s 2010 World Series win over the Texas Rangers, has won 2 post season games so far. He went 5.2 innings allowing only one run on six hits. He even got a fourth-inning RBI single to left field off Verlandar. This win extended the Giants' winning streak in Zito's starts to 14, dating back to the regular season.

Another interesting note on this game’s heroes is that Pablo Sandovar, also in the 2010 World Series played only one game and had 3 at-bats with no hits while striking out once. He may have looked like Babe Ruth, but was not hitting like him. Even though he still has that pudgy look, he seems to be in better form despite only hitting 12 home runs during the regular season with just 63 RBI. In this post season, however, Sandoval is hitting .370 in the postseason, with six homers and 13 RBIs in 54 at-bats.

The New York Yankees, who led the Majors with 245 home runs during the regular season before totally collapsing in the ALCS, can learn a lesson from the Giants anemic over the fence heroics.  While the Tigers were 16th, with 163, the Giants were 30th, dead last, with just 103 home runs. Go figure.

The Giants hit 31 regular-season home runs at AT&T Park, by far the fewest in the Majors and the lowest total since 1992.  Sandoval, it seems, made a mockery of that statistical blemish. Go figure.

 Written for: www.latinosports.com

Game Tidbits: In a Jeter-less game, slumping Yankees manage 4 hits in ALCS Game 2 blanking: 3-0

El Bronx, Yankee Stadium –   Raúl Ibañez, given it was only the bottom of the fourth, thought of something other than hitting late innings come from behind home runs: he attempted to steal a base after getting a single up the middle; he would be thrown out. Alex Rodriguez who batted two batters later (6th), on the other hand, was still doing the same thing with the same results, not hitting and striking out for a second time.

Eventually Alex would line out to Left and sharply hit a grounder in the bottom of the ninth through the right side to get a single, but the offense, as highlighted by Robinson Cano’s slump – hitless streak at 26 at-bats in the postseason is endemic of a lineup that has failed to come up with a big hit with men on base (and in scoring position in particular). The net result was a 4-hit, 3-0 blanking at the hands of Anibal Sanchez and reliever Phil Coke who combined to strike out 10 Yankees.

Hiroko Kuroda held the Tigers hitless through five until Tiger short stop Jhonny Antonio Peralta singled up the middle on the top sixth. Removing the tension of a no-no, the focus for Koruda was then to match Tiger’s starter, Venezuelan Anibal Sanchez’s scoreless pitching. With Peralta moving to second on a ground out by the next batter, Koruda would keep his shut out intact by getting out of the inning.

RAUL GETS RESPECT

Raúl Ibañez was intentionally walked in the Yankees half of the sixth after Ichiro Suzuki got on an error by Sanchez. Suzuki got as far as third, but the Yankees are somewhat not doing anything different in leaving man in scoring position by producing a hit with men on base other than a home run – it seems.

TIGERS BREAK SCORELESS DUEL

The following inning, top of the seventh, Tiger left fielder Quintin Berry opened the frame with a ground rule double to dead center and advanced to third on a single by third baseman Miguel Cabrera. Prince Fielder struck out, and thorn on the side of the Yankees, Delmon Young, almost hit into a double play, but Robinson Cano could not get a handle the pivot-throw to first after getting the ball from Derek Jeter’s replacement, Jason Nix. Berry scored the Tiger’s first and only run of the inning.

YANKS DON’T KEEP UP WITH THE SANCHEZ’S

In the bottom of the seventh, Alex Rodriguez did not strike out; in fact, hit it pretty well to the Left Fielder.  It was followed by a Curtis Granderson walk, who then he dared put himself in scoring position by stealing second base, but the next two batters, Nick Swisher and Jayson Nix struck out. Business as usual, one may think. The game was characterized by the lack of run support Koruda had seen many times during the regular season.

KURODA 11K’S BUT UMPIRE BAD CALL ENDS HIS NIGHT AS TIGERS BREAK GAME OPEN WITH 2 RUNS, REALLY!

Kuroda began the top of the eight striking out the first two batters and skipper Joe Giraldi paid  him a visit and after a brief consultation decides to go with him.  Tiger’s Omar Infante then singles to center. The next batter, Austin Jackson singles to right and Nick Swisher throws to Robinson Cano covering second who clearly puts the tag on Infante scrambling to get back to the base.

But the second base Umpire, Jeff Nelson, and much to the surprise of Infante, called the play safe. After the game and viewing an instant replay, the umpire would admit he was wrong: “The hand (Infante’s on getting back to the bag) did not get in before the tag, the call was incorrect,” said Jeff Nelson.

INSTANT REPLAY POR FAVOR

But that instant replay viewing was after the game when it would not count. Joe Giraldi thinks it should be part of the game, he said, “I just think it’s – yeah, let’s have instant replay. And not just, not just home run, fair, foul. Let’s have instant replay.”

Joe Torre, who would have once been in Giraldi’s place, now Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations explained the process of more instant replay was being studied, but “… but right now we haven’t really com to any conclusion on what’s the best way to go about it and not make the game drag and go longer then they are going already,” he said.

Boon Logan replaced Kuroda and gave up an RBI hit to pinch hitter Avasail Garcia, scoring Infante. Joba Chamberlain replaced Logan and does what seems to be a regular season trait since he got back from the DL; he allowed an inherited run to score with Miguel Cabrera’s RBI hit to right.

With that hit, Cabrera has reached base safely in all 18 career postseason games with the Tigers tying Hall of Famer Hank Greenberg’s own 18-game streak with Detroit.

In the meantime skipper Joe Giraldi gets ejected from the game by 2B Umpire Jeff Nelson, yes, the one who botched up the play accounting for the eventual two Tiger runs. Clay Rapada came in and issued a walk to load the bases, but his successor on the mound, Cody Eppley stops the bleeding – Ok, only 2 runs would score, but the way the Yankees have been swinging, it must have looked like 10 runs instead – by striking out Delmon Young to end the top of the eight.

Kuroda’s line: 7.2 IP, 5H, 3R (earned), 0BB, 11K and no Hr’s allowed. His counterpart, Anibal Sanchez: 7IP, 3H, 0R, 0BB and 7K.

THE MEEK WILL NOT INHERIT THE WOLRD. NO COMEBACK ATTEMPT

Ex-Yankee Phil Coke put down the meekly Yankee bats in order (Suzuki, Cano and Teixeira) in the bottom of the eighth. Coke would get a save with two scoreless innings on just one hit, striking out 3.

José Velvarde is not going to see action as a closer after anytime soon after the debacle the night before (and an ALDS blown game) so instead, in a save situation, Tiger skipper Jim Leyland left Coke to face Raúl Ibañez, Russell Martin and Alex Rodriguez in the bottom of the ninth.  The first two strike out. Then to a little fan delight, Alex Rodriguez’ sharply hit grounder to right for a single gives them a short reason to cheer, but Granderson strikes out ending the game.

The Yankees, who led the mayors in comeback wins during the regular season, for the second night, fail to do so to win the first two games of this ALCS. In a pivotal game, they fail to go to Detroit even at one game apiece and in the first post season Jetel-ess game in 17 years, Justin Verlander awaits a meek Yankee offense to possibly give the Tigers a 3-0 advantage with one more win to go and secure the AL Championship.

Post-Game Extra:

Joe Giraldi will travel to Chicago for his dad’s funeral. He expressed his desire not to have any players there as he told those who asked to be present to “enjoy their off-day and come ready to play on Tuesday…rest, rest,” he said.

The Yankees will get a needed day off after playing 5 straight postseason games.

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Photo Bill Menzel/Latino Sports

 

Bird watching Days: on September 24th Yankees gain ground on Orioles

San Juan, Puerto Rico – While I am blessed with the sounds of birds where I am and have the opportunity to do some bird watching, the bird watching taking place – along with baseball fans keeping tabs on the races for first place and Wild Card berths – is particularly the one of the AL East where the Baltimore Orioles, in their hunt for first place, are chirping down the necks of the New York Yankees. The Orioles have been acting like the Puerto Rican bird el Pitirri, a small bird that beats up on a larger Guaraguao.

The Yankees won their first of three against the Minnesota Twins (6-3), while the Baltimore Orioles split a double header (W 4-1; L 9-5) and as Monday came to the end; the one run lead the Yankees had turned into a gain of half a game. Andy Pettitte turned out six inning of shut out ball in his second game from the DL.

While there may be for NY fans some comfort in the Yankees schedule playing against under-.500 teams the rest of the season, let’s not forget how the ball bounces in baseball when scrubby teams suddenly become a formidable challenge. 

While the Yankees put away the first of three against the Twins with a win, just recently the Detroit Tigers (as of this writing are one game behind), chasing the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central, much as Baltimore is on New York, lost a double header against the Twins before the Yankees came to town.

And at Baltimore, interestingly enough, bird watchers, the Orioles were overpowered by the Toronto Blue Jays in that second game of their twin bill.

Baltimore’s schedule is seen a slightly tougher because the face Tampa in the last three games of the season.

On the other hand, the third place six games back Tampa Rays, , have a shot at the Wild Card. They are three games behind there. Their schedule, besides the Baltimore series to end the season, has them playing three games against the AL Central first place Chicago White Sox.

The Yankees face Minnesota, Toronto and end at home against their distant once rivals Boston Red Sox.

New York fans keep your binoculars on hand as there may be birds of prey circling the skies.  The Orioles relentless in building a first place nest. The Blue Jays being spoilers, while not having Yunel  Escobar call the Yankees’ Latino players a bunch of … have his bat, as he did earlier in a game at the Stadium in September, do the talking.

LatinoSports BB: Two Balks Don’t Make It Right but CC Sabathia had his Night

El Bronx –C.C. Sabathia started the night looking for his first victory of the season.  After giving up 3 runs through the first 3 innings on four hits, it could have been in doubt if he would get it with his shaky start.

The Twins Josh Willingham, named the American League Player of the Week (Period ending April 15^th ) and who had hit safely in each of the Twins first 10 games (now 11), got the Twins on board on the top of the second inning with his 5^th home run of the season (had been tied for first in HRs). Missing from the Twins lineup was Justin Morneau – batting .452 in 11 career regular season games in New York.

The Yankees tied the game on a walk to Curtis Granderson who advanced to second base on a balk* by Twins pitcher Francisco Liriano; later reached third on a bunt single by Eduardo Nuñez and scored on a RBI double down the left field line by Brett Gardner.

The Twins who usually leave New York with a feeling of rejection if not outright dejection (The Yanks have a home 175-110 win-lost advantage and an overall 334-245 record against them) regained the lead with two runs the following inning; had their center fielder Denard Span and skipper Ron Gardenhire ejected from the game on the top of the 3^rd.

Span on what appeared to be an argument on balls and strikes with the plate umpire Greg Gibson, and the skipper for standing up for his player. He would later say: “He (Span) got ejected, and then I said my piece. I got dejected and then ejected.”

On that bottom of the inning Yankees starter C.C. Sabathia balked** second baseman Alexi Castilla who singled after one out. Clete Thomas, in for the ejected Span doubled in a run and would later score on an RBI single by short stop Jamey Carroll. So, in consecutive innings each pitcher had a balk; this would not necessarily be a sign of what was to come, but in case someone is into premonitions, why not…

But the Yankees answered back with 4 runs in the bottom of that frame; this got Twins pitcher Francisco Liriano out of the game: would be 0-2 and would be winless in his career at Yankee Stadium. Skipper Gardenhire would say after the game: “It was a battle. It’s a battle for him right now. He’s not able to execute well enough.”

Then the Yankees added a run in the, 4^th, 5^th and 7^th innings. A highlight of the scoring was Yankees second-string catcher Chris Stewart driving in two runs with single to left. Later he would add another RBI in the bottom of the 7^th after a Brett Gardner steal of second base. Steward wound up with 3 RBI (a career high).

The second highlight came in the 4^th on Andrew Jones’ homerun, his second of the season. Jones was batting fifth in place of not-in-the-lineup first baseman Mark Teixeira, scratched from the lineup due to flu-like symptoms.

C.C. Sabathia would not allow another hit from the 4^th through the 6^th and faced one batter in the 7^th; he got that one out before David Robertson replaced him on the mound. CC. would strike out 7 and allowed only one base on balls. 

David Robertson is part of a bullpen that is second in the American League with a 2.36 ERA behind Texas and fifth best in the Majors before tonight’s game.

On another note: Derek Jeter who needed 7 RBI to tie Bill Dickey (1,210) got two tonight.

So with all the mini-highlights – not leaving out Brett Garner’s sparking catch earlier in the game, and not to be mentioned, a fan running  on the field in what would be “on the field delay,” – would be an 8-3 Yankees win with the Yankees Ace gaining his first win of the year.

* (baseball 101: a balk is a technicality on the pitcher’s movement: stepping towards the plate and throwing to first. It awards a runner (s) to advance to the next base.

Written for Latino Sports.