More Yankee Injuries? Andy Pettitte, Chris Stewart
By Howard Goldin
BRONX, NEW YORK, MAY 17- It took 3 hours and 26 minutes for the Yankees to lose the rubber game of the three-game series with Seattle. Although the Thursday night loss was disappointing, the Yanks are still in first place in the American League East. The biggest worry for Yankees executives and fans is the seriousness of the physical condition of Andy Pettitte and Chris Stewart.
The Yankees veteran left-hander Andy Pettitte seems snake-bit when pitching against the Seattle Mariners. Seattle is the only American League franchise that has a winning record over Pettitte. The Mariners have handed him 13 losses in the 25 games he has pitched against them. He has 5-10 in his last 15 decisions.
On Thursday night, Pettitte failed to record his 250th win in the majors as he was removed from the contest after pitching only 4.2 innings. At the start of the fifth, the starting pitcher told manager Joe Girardi he had a little spasm, but wanted to remain in the game once two were out. Girardi recalled, “When I saw the drop in velocity, I had some concern. To me, his trap had a knot in it.” The manager does not know if the lefty will miss a turn or even be out of action longer.
Pettitte gave up two runs, four hits, three walks, and threw a wild pitch during his time on the mound. He left with the Yankees trailing, 2-1.
Interestingly, Seattle’s starter, Hector Noesi, threw the same number of pitches as Pettitte, 79, but he was not involved in the decision as he left the game after only 4.1 innings.
The Yankees scored their first tally in the second with two out. Curtis Granderson beat out an infield hit in only his third career start as designated hitter. He advanced to second on an error by the first baseman on the same play and crossed the plate after a double by David Adams. Adams, who began his in the majors on the previous night, recorded his first extra-base hit and first run batted in.
The Mariners scored an insurance run in the sixth, which proved to be needed, when outfielder Michael Morse led off the inning with his 10th four bagger. The home run was the hot hitting outfielder’s 9th hit in his previous 14 at bats.
The Yanks cut the deficit to a single run in the seventh as they pushed one run over the plate on an infield single by Robinson Cano.
Seattle closer Tom Wilhelmsen recorded his 11th save of the season in 11 save opportunities by holding the Yankees to an infield single in the ninth.
Catcher Chris Stewart was replaced by Austin Romine in the eighth. Girardi said Stewart complained of pain in his left groin. After the game, the manager said, “Let’s see what the MRI says.” When asked if he would bring up another catcher from the minors, he responded, “We’ll just have to see.”
The Yankees will begin a three game series with the visiting Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night. Hiroki Kuroda (5-2) will start for New York against Mark Buerhle (1-2) for Toronto.
Friday, May 17, 2013
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Highbridge News: Yanks Edge Astros, 5-4
Highbridge News: Yanks Edge Astros, 5-4: By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, May 2- Astute base running by Lyle Overbay in the sixth inning led to a 5-4 victory by the Yankees o...
Yanks Edge Astros, 5-4
By Howard Goldin
BRONX, NEW YORK, May 2- Astute base running by Lyle Overbay in the sixth inning led to a 5-4 victory by the Yankees on Wednesday night. The win gave the Yankees the three-game series win over the new American League entry, the Houston Astros. The victory was the sixth for the New Yorkers in their last seven contests.
Both starting pitchers, David Phelps of the Yanks and Eric Bedard gave up four earned runs in their relatively brief stints on the mound. Neither pitcher was involved in the decision.
The Astros were held scoreless in eight of the nine frames. They erupted for four tallies in the fourth inning. Four hits and two hit batsmen accounted for Houston’s run output.
The Yanks scored their runs in four separate installments. Ichiro Suzuki led off the first with a triple. He scored the first run of the contest after Jayson Nix singled to left.
In the second, three bases on balls followed by a sacrifice fly by catcher Chris Stewart scored the second Yankees run.
Two four baggers by the Yankees in the third gave New York a 4-0 advantage. Robinson Cano led off the inning with a solo homer to right. The long ball was his 185th, tying him with Paul O’Neill for 17th place on the Yankees. The run batted in was his 733rd as a Yankee, giving him 20th place in the history of the club.
With two out in the same inning, Ben Francisco’s home run was his first homer and first run batted in as a Yankee. Manager Joe Girardi said, “A walk and a home run. I hope that sets him off.”
The deciding run of the game came in the bottom of the sixth. With one out and men on first and second, Ichiro hit an infield ground ball. Although it resulted in a double play, Eduardo Nunez scored thanks to wise base running by Lyle Overbay. His intelligence in delaying the rundown allowed the winning run to score.
After the contest concluded, Girardi commented on Overbay’s performance, “It takes a heads-up player, very smart. I give Lyle a lot of credit.”
Yankee relievers Boone Logan, David Robertson and Mariano Rivera pitched 3.1 scoreless innings. Rivera earned his 11th save of the season in 11 opportunities. His raised his MLB career mark to 619 saves.
Infielder Chris Nelson was acquired by the Yanks from Colorado in exchange for cash or a player to be named later.
On Friday, Oakland will come to the Bronx for a three game weekend series. CC Sabathia (4-2) will start for the Yanks on Friday versus A.J.Griffin (2-2) for Oakland.
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Highbridge News: Yuke Down
Highbridge News: Yuke Down: Yankees put Youkilis on disabled list and beat Astros By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, May 1- Earlier in the day, Kevin Youkilis becam...
Yuke Down
Yankees put Youkilis on disabled list and beat Astros
By Rich Mancuso
BRONX, NEW YORK, May 1- Earlier in the day, Kevin Youkilis became the latest casualty to be placed on a never ending New York Yankees disabled list. The injury toll grows, but the wins keep coming, the latest Tuesday night in the Bronx as New York defeated the Houston Astros 7-4.
Youkilis, signed to a one-year contract, filling a void at third base for the disabled Alex Rodriguez, was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a lumbar spine strain. He has been experiencing lower back pain the past week and sat out the weekend four-game Yankees series sweep over Toronto.
After banging out 17-hits against Yankees pitching in their opening series game win Monday night at Yankee Stadium, Houston had opportunities against starter Hiroki Kuroda (4-1). But, the young Astros struck out 12-times and left numerous runners on base.
Despite struggling early, Kuroda won his team-high fourth game of the season. The slider and off speed pitch were on target after throwing 67 pitches and putting a runner on in the first three innings, recording shutout ball for seven innings and eight of the strikeouts.
“You have to be pretty good to stick around to make it through those first three innings and then be good enough to give your team seven innings,” said manager Joe Girardi about his starter
The Yankees, after a 1-4 start, finished the month of April, 16-10. Girardi is more than pleased, especially with the veteran players that have stepped up to the plate.
“The offense has been spread around,” commented Girardi. “I am pleased the way these guys have been playing. They have done a very good job for us. It hasn’t always been pretty but our guys have come up with clutch hits when we needed them,”
One in particular is Travis Hafner. He stepped up big again in the cleanup spot, 3-for-4, and has driven in at least one run in eight of the Yankees’ nine series this season. Hafner drove in the final run in a three-run eighth.
Girardi said about Hafner, “You just see that his approach is good. He’s been great in that four-hole for us. With all the people we have out, he’s done a really good job in our lineup.”
And Lyle Overbay, getting the regular start at first, got the lone Yankees home run of the game. His fourth opened the eighth inning scoring. David Robertson and Shawn Kelley came out of the pen and Houston combined to score four runs in the last two innings. The big blow was a two run homer from Chris Carter off Robertson in the eighth.
The sparse crowd remaining from the 34,301, chanted “We want Mo,” and Mariano Rivera got the final out and recorded his 10th save in as many chances.
The Astros, a young team in their inaugural year in the American League, and with the lowest payroll in the game, saw starter and loser Philip Humber (0-6) allow four runs in six innings. He entered the game having given up 18 hits and 15 runs over his last two starts.
“I’m a little bit frustrated but it’s a part of the game,” said Humber who was removed after trailing 4-0, giving up nine hits and walking two.
However, with the exception of injuries there is no reason for Girardi and his Yankees to be frustrated. They ended April better than expected, second to the Boston Red Sox in the American League East, and hope to begin the month of May taking another series with a win over the Astros Wednesday evening.
E-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com
Monday, April 29, 2013
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Highbridge News: Bronx Stands with Boston
Highbridge News: 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 Ya...
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