Yankees Sock it to Boston

Yankees Sock it to Boston

Yanks Put to Rest Some Questions with Dominance of Red Sox, Ejection of Manager John Farrell

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, APRIL 14- The rivalry changed a bit when the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox met for the first time in the Bronx the past three days. The Yankees, a team with questions will take what they accomplished after their 3-2 win Sunday night taking three of four games from their rivals.

This early in the season, and with questions about a Yankees bullpen that is being tested, they conquered. Matt Thornton, David Phelps and Shawn Kelley closed the door with David Robertson on the disabled list. It was intense baseball in the Bronx and from the looks of these first four of 19-games that will be played between these division rivals, there will be more intensity.

And count on a little of everything, including spectacular defense that came from the Yankees outfield. With a decimated infield, plagued by injuries, Carlos Beltran was shifted from right-field to first base in the top of the fifth because of an injury to Francisco Cervelli.

Cervelli, will likely go on the disabled list. Sunday night, Beltran went 3-for-4 including a home run, single and a double He has been everything the Yankees wanted in their lineup, perhaps something they did not have last year when the Red Sox dominated New York.

"I didn't have a whole lot of choices tonight," said manager Joe Girardi about putting Beltran in at first for the injured Cervelli. "Just tells you the type of player he is. Willing to do anything you ask him to do.”

He added, “Very, very unselfish."

Beltran is that type of player. He was one of the four players the Yankees purchased for over $450 million to get them back to October. But, with the Yankees decimated with injuries in the infield, Beltran was pressed into service and was put in the infield for the first time in his career.

It was another dimension to this rivalry, a new one that has developed. The Red Sox don’t resemble the team that went on to win a World Series last October. And the Yankees, without Derek Jeter this night ,were pressed to do something and Beltran did not say no.

"Thank God nobody hit the baseball to me," said Beltran. He made three putouts and without Mark Teixeira, on the disabled list with a right hamstring pull, Girardi may not hesitate to put Beltran at first again.

“We have to do what it takes," Beltran said. I hope I don't have to do it again." The Yankees are doing what they have to do, 13-games into a young season. He has homered in consecutive games since May 28-29 of last season against Kansas City when he was with the Cardinals.

The Yankees scored their third run in the fourth inning. The new instant replay rule went to their benefit and caused the ejection of Boston Manager John Farrell. Cervelli was ruled safe on a bang-bang play at first. Girardi challenged.

Farrell contested the change of a call that enabled the Yankees to get what was a decisive run in what could have been an inning ending double-play. Under the new rule a play overturned is not supposed to be argued by a manager, hence the ejection. More, so the Yankees got the benefit and the rivalry got more intense.

So much of what transpired renewed a rivalry that seemed to disappear last season. Ichiro Suzuki, replacing Beltran in right, crashed into the outfield wall and made a spectacular catch that took an extra base hit away from David Ortiz in the eighth inning.

And by the eighth inning, with Mike Napoli on second, after a double to left that the Yankees’ Brett Gardner did his best to get, the Yankee Stadium crowd could be heard again, as it was when this rivalry was so intense.

Phelps, part of the mix and match late combination out of the Yankees pen walked Daniel Nava on a pitch that was low. A.J. Pierzynski got hit by a pitch that loaded the bases. Mike Carp off the bench after going behind 2-0 on the count went after a breaking ball and swung at strike three.

Then Kelley, in a role as one of the closers, sent the Red Sox packing in the ninth. It is only April, but these games are so important in a division that will be contested also with Tampa Bay.

“You know the division and wild card come down to one run,” said Girardi who always said these games are important now. However, if the Yankees want to be there in late September, they need to stay healthy. And they need good pitching as Ivan Nova got his second win in 7.1 innings. He struck out four on eight-hits and one of the Boston runs off Napoli’s third home run in the sixth.

“I thought he had a better command of his curveball tonight and that was a difference,” commented Girardi. In his last outing, Nova gave up seven runs and 10-hits in 3-2/3 innings to Baltimore.

The type of game on Sunday night that revived a rivalry in the Bronx and the Yankees, with an off Monday have a day to recuperate before welcoming the Chicago Cubs for a two-game interleague series.

Comment Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com  facebook.com/Rich Mancuso www.newyorksportsexaminer.com

Highbridge News: Yanks Blast Sox Off

Highbridge News: Yanks Blast Sox Off: Yanks Blast Sox Off Homers Give Yankees a 7-4 Victory over the Red Sox By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK APRIL 13- In a reversa...

Yanks Blast Sox Off

Yanks Blast Sox Off

Homers Give Yankees a 7-4 Victory over the Red Sox

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK APRIL 13- In a reversal of the circumstances of the previous night’s contest at Yankee Stadium, five Yankee four baggers drove in each of their seven runs and ensured them a Saturday matinee victory over the Boston Red Sox.

The good feeling of sitting under blue skies and mild temperatures in the 60’s was increased for the Yankee rooters in the ballpark by the success at the plate of the Yankee batters. The combination provided a pleasant Saturday afternoon outing for the 48.572 fans in the Stadium, the largest crowd of the season.

In the first frame, a two-out single by the hot hitting former star of the Red Sox, Jacoby Ellsbury, was followed by Carlos Beltran’s second home run of the 2014 campaign, which gave New York a two run lead.

A lead-off base hit by Xander Bogarts in the second led to a tied score of two as the next batter, AJ Pierzynski blasted the first pitch into the seats in right to drive in two runs.

Two innings later, Brian McCann and Alfonso Soriano connected for back-to-back homers to give New York a 4-2 advantage. The Yankees had last hit homers back-to-back on June 6, 2013 in Seattle.

Two additional Yankee runners crossed the plate in the bottom of the sixth. McCann with his second home run of the game also drove in Beltran, who had doubled to begin the inning. This was McCann’s tenth multi-homer game in his career in the majors. It was the first Yankee multi-home run game since Soriano blasted two round trippers on September 10, 2013.

Despite entering the contest with a batting average of .162, the Yankee skipper was not surprised by McCann’s home runs, “I know he’s going to hit; he’s too good a hitter not to hit.”

Yankee starter Hiroki Kuroda was removed from the game after 6.1 innings after walking two batters in the seventh. A hit batsman and a single by Mike Carp off reliever Matt Thornton allowed the last two baserunners of Kuroda’s outing to score.

Kuroda gave up six hits and four earned runs in his 6.1 inning performance. He earned his second win of the young season, but was critical of his pitching, “Overall, I wasn’t sharp. My command and precise control wasn’t there.”

Kelly Johnson began the eighth frame with a crushing blow that landed in the center field seats. Saturday’s game was the third straight in which Johnson homered. The two rookies, Yangervis Solarte and Dean Anna, followed with a single and a double respectively. They were stranded on second and third when the inning concluded after the next two batters could not move them.

The offensive onslaught was quite pleasing to the Yankee manager, “It definitely helps if you can score runs quickly. I think our offense is much more balanced than last year. I think it is much more explosive too.”

The final game of the series will be played on Sunday night. Ivan Nova will start for New York and Felix Doubront will start for Boston.

Highbridge News: CC Loses Concentration, Game

Highbridge News: CC Loses Concentration, Game: CC Loses Concentration, Game Red Sox Homers Give Boston a 4-2 Win over Yanks By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, APRIL 12-  The Red Sox evened...

CC Loses Concentration, Game

CC Loses Concentration, Game
Red Sox Homers Give Boston a 4-2 Win over Yanks


By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, APRIL 12- The Red Sox evened the four game series with the Yankees at one each as two homers in the sixth inning off Yankee starter CC Sabathia gave the visitors enough runs to ensure their victory.

Sabathia was extremely effective during the first five innings, giving up one hit, a double by catcher David Ross in the third and walking two batters. During that period, the lefty fanned six to tie Roger Clemens for 12th place in strikeouts as a Yankee pitcher.

Manager Joe Girardi was pleased with the work of the man considered the ace of the Yankee staff, “I thought he [Sabathia] threw the ball pretty well. He’s run into a little bit of bad luck.”

The bad luck or careless pitching came in the sixth frame. The second pitch Sabathia threw was hit by Jonny Gomes into the seats in left field to knot the score at one. With one out, David Ortiz checked his swing on a 0-2 pitch, but the ball dribbled into the infield for a base hit. The unlikely hit unnerved the veteran pitcher sufficiently for him to lose his focus.

Mike Napoli then singled and Grady Sizemore, a close friend of the Yankee pitcher, took a hanging slider into the right field stands for a three run homer. Girardi believed only one bad pitch cost Sabathia a victory, “It was just one pitch. I thought he left the slider up to Sizemore.”

The losing hurler for the Yankees blamed the difficult inning on his loss of concentration after the hit by Ortiz, “It’s frustrating. I let them [my emotions] get the best of me tonight. I just can’t let this stuff happen. I haven’t been able to put a whole game together.”

The Boston starter, Jon Lester, spoke respectfully and realistically of Sabathia’s performance, “You know it’s always going to be tough against CC. He was on point and made a couple of mistakes. Fortunately, we made him pay for it.”

Lester only gave up one run in the first six innings, also caused by one pitch. Alfonso Soriano connected on a fastball to lead off the second and drove the ball into the seats in left for his 408th home run.

A two out single in the seventh by Ichiro Suzuki, a walk to Brian Roberts and a single by Kelly Johnson drove in the only other run for the Yanks. The hit was only the first by Johnson off Lester in 15 at bats. Notwithstanding the hit, Johnson was full of praise for Lester, “Lester was great. That was typical Lester. He’s one of the toughest in the game.”

Girardi was in agreement, “When you’re facing an ace [Lester], you don’t score a lot of runs.”
The third game of the series will be played on Saturday afternoon with Hiroki Kuroda starting for New York and John Lackey for Boston.

Highbridge News: Pizza chain opens in hungry Co-op City

Highbridge News: Pizza chain opens in hungry Co-op City: Pizza chain opens in hungry Co-op City BRONX, NEW YORK, APRIL 11- Hungry Howie's Pizza is bringing their famous flavored crus...

Pizza chain opens in hungry Co-op City

Pizza chain opens in hungry Co-op City

BRONX, NEW YORK, APRIL 11- Hungry Howie's Pizza is bringing their famous flavored crust to the New York area with its newest location at Co-op City. 

Hungry Howie's Pizza, the originator of the flavored crust pizza, offers eight famous crust flavors including: butter, butter cheese, cajun, garlic herb, onion, ranch, sesame and original. The franchise also offers $5, $10, $15 and $20 deals for the Co-op City and North East Bronx residents to indulge in. "I am thrilled to begin Hungry Howie's Pizza's expansion in the state of New York, with my new location at Co-op City," said owner Phillip Cotto. "I am positive we will bring great service and high quality, delicious pizza to the area." "We are grateful to have Phillip as part of the Hungry Howie's Pizza family," said Brian Wirth, Marketing Manager at Hungry Howie's Pizza. “With great passion along with a wonderful environment, we are confident that they will do well at their Co-op City location."

The Bronx Chamber of Commerce presented Phillip with a certificate officially welcoming Hungry Howie’s to the Bronx Community family. Hungry Howie’s team presented Jeffrey Ampratwum, District Executive/Bronx Council of the Boy Scout of America with a check to help support their facilities.

Hungry Howie's Pizza is located at 291 Co-op City Blvd, Bronx, NY. To reach Hungry Howie's Pizza call (929) 222-4500. Hours of operation are Sunday-Thursday 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Friday-Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m.