Highbridge News: $10G Reward for Pizza Shop Killer

Highbridge News: $10G Reward for Pizza Shop Killer: $10G Reward for Pizza Shop Killer BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 16- The FBI is now offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leadi...

$10G Reward for Pizza Shop Killer

$10G Reward for Pizza Shop Killer

BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 16- The FBI is now offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest of Antoine D. Burroughs.

Burroughs, aka Butter or Youngblood, is 25 years old, is 6 foot 1, weighs approximately 180 to 190 pounds, and has a prominent mole on his right cheek. He was last known to be in Harlem, and he is believed to have family and friends in Harlem and the Bronx.

According to the allegations in the superseding indictment unsealed on March 18, 2014, in Manhattan federal court and on other documents in the public record: On September 9, 2009, Burroughs and his accomplice, Leon Whitfield, attempted to rob an individual named Bartolomeo Antoniello at his home in Queens, New York. Burroughs and Whitfield were targeting the cash proceeds of Antoniello’s pizza shop. Antoniello’s son, Gerardo Antoniello, was home at the time and attempted to protect his father. During the struggle, Gerardo Antoniello was shot in the head and later died of his injuries. He was 29 years old.

Burroughs is charged with one count of robbery conspiracy and one count of attempted robbery; one count of discharging a firearm; and one count of murder. Whitfield was arrested on March 18, 2014, by FBI agents.

“The public can play an important role in capturing fugitives by alerting law enforcement if they have information. If you have a tip, pick up the phone and call us,” said FBI spokesman Christos Sinos. “Your help can really make a difference.”

Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of Burroughs is urged to contact law enforcement immediately. The FBI can be reached 24 hours a day at (212) 384-1000. Burroughs should be considered armed and extremely dangerous.

Highbridge News: Bring Back #Stop-n-Frisk?

Highbridge News: Bring Back #Stop-n-Frisk?: Bring Back #Stop-n-Frisk? Activist Blames Mayor for Shootings By Michael Horowitz BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 14-  Civic activist Frank...

Bring Back #Stop-n-Frisk?

Bring Back #Stop-n-Frisk?

Activist Blames Mayor for Shootings

By Michael Horowitz

BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 14- Civic activist Frank Belcher said Mayor de Blasio’s decision to overturn the city’s stop-and-frisk policy has triggered a recent spike in shooting in various parts of the city.

Belcher, a vocal supporter of Mayor Bloomberg’s aggressive approaches to fighting crime, stressed, this week, that de Blasio, through his words and deeds, has fostered an atmosphere of permissiveness among those who might be considering breaking the law.

“If we’re not careful, we’re going to see shootings in the city like they now have in the city of Chicago,” Belcher stressed. “As a society, we have to be far more concerned about victims of crime than about the rights of those who commit crimes. In short, we have to stop coddling the criminals.”

Belcher added, “The city needs to re-institute Mayor Bloomberg’s stop-and-frisk policy. The city had a much better handle in the fight against crime when Bloomberg was our mayor.”

The civic activist stressed, “Mayor Bloomberg, unlike his successor, understood that you can’t coddle criminals. He understood that aggressive action was needed to prevent the criminals from getting the upper hand over law-abiding citizens.”

Belcher’s comments in support of Bloomberg’s stop-and-frisk policy were similar to those expressed, this week, by State Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr.

Diaz said that the city needs to re-institute the stop-and frisk policy to stem the recent tide of violence that has victimized New Yorkers, especially those in minority communities.

Highbridge News: She’s Getting Ready to Sing for Yanks

Highbridge News: She’s Getting Ready to Sing for Yanks: She’s Getting Ready to Sing for Yanks Tanaka on DL, CC Out Spells Trouble for Playoff Hopes Masahiro Tanaka to be on Disabled L...

She’s Getting Ready to Sing for Yanks

She’s Getting Ready to Sing for Yanks

Tanaka on DL, CC Out Spells Trouble for Playoff Hopes

Masahiro Tanaka to be on Disabled List for a Minimum of Six Weeks

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 11- Less than a week before the All-Star Game was to be played, the Yankees received their worst news of the 2014 season. It was announced that Yankee ace Masahiro Tanaka would be out of action for at least six weeks with a partial tear in his ulner collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow.

The first indication occurred last Tuesday when the rookie complained of soreness after being removed from his start after 6.2 innings. He was then placed on the 15 day DL. 

The problem was diagnosed after Tanaka underwent an MRI and flew to Seattle to confer with the Yankees physician, Dr. Christopher Ahmed, and other doctors. It was determined that the tear was small and Tanaka would undergo a six-week period of rehabilitation. He is to have a platelet-rich plasma injection next week. No surgery was proposed. 

If the rehab is not successful, he will likely have to have Tommy John surgery, which will put him out of action until the 2016 season.

The loss was huge as Tanaka joined three of the starters of the season beginning, C.C. Sabathia, Ivan Nova and Michael Pineda, on the disabled list. Only Hiroki Kuroda, 39, currently remains in the starting rotation. 

The importance of the loss of the rookie from Japan can easily be determined by his place in the individual pitching rankings in the American League this season. He ranks first in wins (12), and complete games (3), second in ERA (2.27) and fewest walks per 9 innings (1.3), fifth in winning percentage (.800) and innings pitched (122.2) and sixth in strikeouts (130) and opponents’ batting average against (.224). 

The amazing newcomer to MLB was a favorite to win the as the American League Rookie-of-the-Year Award and the Cy Young Award. He was also a rare rookie pitcher being seriously considered to be the American League starting pitcher in the All-Star Game. 

The two men, Joe Girardi and Brian Cashman, who have the prime responsibility for the success of the Yankees this year commented upon the loss of Tanaka. Yankee skipper Girardi tried, as always, to be optimistic, “We’ll keep our fingers crossed. It is what it is. It’ll be at least six weeks. I’m optimistic we’ll have him back.” When asked about how the rotation will now be devised, he responded, “We’ll figure it out.”

General Manager Brian Cashman spoke of his efforts to obtain a starting pitcher through a trade, “We’ve been aggressive because now we’ve got four starters that we were planning to use out. We are in a division fight, and we want to stay in the fight.”

Highbridge News: Serial Groper Strikes Throughout #Bronx

Highbridge News: Serial Groper Strikes Throughout #Bronx: Serial Groper Strikes Throughout #Bronx Groper Wanted in Nine Attacks Since February By David Greene BRONX, NEW YORK, J...

Serial Groper Strikes Throughout #Bronx

Serial Groper Strikes Throughout #Bronx

Groper Wanted in Nine Attacks Since February

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 9- Police are hunting a serial grouper wanted in nine recent attacks on girls, teens and young women in the Wakefield, Edenwald, Williamsbridge and Eastchester neighborhoods.

On June 24, the NYPD released a flyer with a police composite sketch of the individual wanted for nine separate incidents of forcible touching of females between the ages of 12 and 21.

The first incident was reported on February 13, at 7:50 a.m., when a 14-year-old female was attacked on her way to the subway along Eastchester Road.

On Saturday, February 15 a second attack was reported by another 14-year-old girl who was violated by the creep as she walked passed the intersection of Burke Avenue and Eastchester Road at 9:30 a.m.

The pervert waited more then a month when he struck again. This time he inappropriately touched a 13 year-old as she walked along Magenta Street at 7:30 a.m. on March 28.

A fourth incident was reported on April 28, when he grabbed a 13 year-old from behind as she walked near Baychester Avenue at 8 a.m.

Again waiting more than a month, he struck again on May 29, when the suspect jogged up to an 18-year-old victim and forcibly touched her in the area of Burke Avenue.

The suspect struck again the following day when he approached and attacked a 12 year-old victim in the area of East 233 Street.

On June 9, a 16 year-old reported she was attacked a 6:55 a.m., along Boston Road.

In his last two attacks, reported on June 11, at 8:15 a.m. a 21-year-old woman reported a forcible touching attack as she walked along Fish Avenue. Fifteen minutes later a 12 year-old reported a similar incident as she walked along Schieffelin Avenue.

Although traumatized, none of the victims were physically injured.

Police describe the suspect as 20 year-old black male, 5 foot 10, thin build and was last seen wearing a black hooded jacket, blue jeans and black sneakers. Investigators say the suspect also has a scar under his right eye.

The attacks have prompted a local citizens group called the New York Hero Imitative to patrol the effected neighborhoods in searching for the suspect and passing out flyers to residents.

One group member, "Spectre" said the group was encouraged by the community's reaction to their presence and added, "We're going to re-visit a few areas where we had some promising leads on this case."

One source at the local community board stated that the local community was informed of the attacks in mid-May. One police official questioned could not explain the delay in alerting the public to the pattern-crime.

The source says detectives and police are in the process of going back to all nine locations and are searching for surveillance video of the suspect.

Meanwhile, 50 additional cops start hitting the street's today (July 7) at the 47th Precinct. The manpower will attempt to combat the recent uptick in violent crime in the area.

Anyone with any information on the suspect is urged to call CRIMESTOPPERS at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls remain confidential.

Highbridge News: #Toys R Us

Highbridge News: #Toys R Us: ID Thieves Rip Off Toy Store By Dan Gesslein BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 7- Cops are asking for the public’s help in trying to track down a...

#Toys R Us

ID Thieves Rip Off Toy Store

By Dan Gesslein

BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 7- Cops are asking for the public’s help in trying to track down a couple who made off with a dirt bike from a local Toys R Us.

At around 1:30 p.m. on June 21, cops say the couple used a stolen credit card to purchase a MX500 Dirt Rocket bike from Toys R Us in the Bruckner Mall. The item is priced at $449.99 according to the company’s website. 

The store’s surveillance cameras captured the couple wheeling the item out the front door of the toy store.

The suspect is described as a black male, medium build, with facial hair. He was last seen wearing sunglasses and a white t-shirt. His accomplice is described as a black woman with long hair, medium build. She was last seen wearing sunglasses, a multicolored shirt and pants, a black jacket, black sandals, and carrying a brown purse. 

Anyone with information is urged to call CRIMESTOPPERS at (800) 577-TIPS. The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.

All calls are strictly confidential.

Season Slipping Away for #Yankees?

Season Slipping Away for #Yankees?

Yanks Drop Fifth Straight

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 3- Unless the fortunes of the New York Yankees improve rapidly, the team’s brass will be under increasing pressure to make serious roster changes through the trade route prior to July 31.

The 6-3 loss to the Rays in Thursday’s matinee, the final game of the most recent homestand, was the team’s season-high fifth straight. The last such debacle occurred in June of 2013. It was also the fifth consecutive home defeat of the Yankees, a Bronx losing streak that last took place in May 2011. The 2014 record of the Yanks dropped to 41-42, their first time below .500 since April 11, when their record was 5-6.

The Rays came back from single run deficits three times to knot the score before scoring two in the top of the fifth to assume their first lead of the contest, which they maintained.

The winning blow, a two-run homer, was delivered by Sean Rodriguez in his first game at short since July 11, 2013. The awesome blast went more than 440 feet, Rays manager Joe Maddon commented, “How about Sean’s homer? That could have been out of the old stadium.” 

Rodriguez explained the home run was not his goal, “I was just trying to hit it hard. I just wanted to find a way to contribute to help us win.”

Although Rodriguez is only batting .215, 15 of his 26 hits have been for extra bases, a percentage second in the majors. He remarked with a degree of surprise, “It [power hitting] has become a bigger part of my game than people thought despite my record in the minors

Pitching was again part of the Tampa victory. Rookie Jake Odorizzi, the Tampa starter went 5.2 innings, yielding three runs, eight hits and one walk. Two of the hits were solo home runs, Brett Gardner in the first and Brian McCann in the third.

The winning pitcher fanned only four Yankees, but said, “I have the ability to throw strikes.” This was no understatement as Odorizzi’s mark for strikeouts per nine innings (10.56) is currently the fourth highest in major league history for a rookie pitcher.

The Tampa bullpen kept the Yankees scoreless with only two hits in 3.1 innings. After the game ther Tampa skipper stated, “They [relievers] all looked really good. [They’re] getting their confidence.”

The Rays, at the half-way point of the 2014 season, are moving in the opposite direction of the Yankees. Their win was a season-high fifth straight. The surging Rays have now won seven of their last eight games.

Manager Maddon explained, “We’re getting a different bus driver on a daily basis, that’s what we’re built for.” To continue winning in the future, he said, “We’ve been waiting for things to happen. We have to make things happen.”

The winning pitcher explained their recent success thusly, “Our pitching, our hitting, and our defense are all coming together at the same time.”

 

 

Highbridge News: Get Out of Jail Free Card for Sea Crook?

Highbridge News: Get Out of Jail Free Card for Sea Crook?: Get Out of Jail Free Card for Sea Crook?  Disgraced Council #Seabrook may get out of Jail early By Michael Horowitz BRONX, NE...

Get Out of Jail Free Card for Sea Crook?

Get Out of Jail Free Card for Sea Crook?

 Disgraced Council #Seabrook may get out of Jail early

By Michael Horowitz

BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 2- Former City Councilman Larry Seabrook, who is in the midst of serving a five-year jail sentence, could be a free man much sooner than most of his former constituents thought he would.

That’s because the U. S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals has sent the former Councilman’s case back to Manhattan Federal Court over what many lay people would view as a legal technicality.

The appeals court, after a review of the facts in the case, has the power to order a third trial of the former Bronx lawmaker.

The judges in the Court of Appeals have sent the case back to the Manhattan Federal Court in response to the former lawmaker’s claim that he was denied his right to a public trial because three of his supporters were excluded from the courtroom during the jury selection.

The appeals court found that Seabrook’s appeal had merit based on the law. However, the court determined that it needed additional information on the exact circumstances relating to the jury selection before rendering a judgment on the former lawmaker’s appeal.

In his appeal of his July 2012 conviction on corruption charges, Seabrook charged that his brother, Oliver Seabrook; a friend, Carl Green, and a former constituent, Stuart Edwards, were instructed by the judge’s deputy to leave their seats to make them available for jurors.

Seabrook, in his appeal, also claimed that the media were excluded from the jury selection in his case.

"Excluding the public and the media was an error … and the integrity and public reputation of the proceedings were adversely affected by the `secret’ jury selection in this high-profile case,” Seabrook claimed, in his appeal of his July conviction on corruption charges.

Prosecutors, expressing another view, have said that the individuals who were told to give up their seats were not told to leave the courtroom.

The judge in the Seabrook case, Deborah Batts, was responsible for the vacating of a separate conviction in 2012 on grounds that are similar to those in the former lawmaker’s case.

In July 2012, a federal jury found Seabrook guilty of misdirecting hundreds of thousands of dollars for community projects to his girlfriend and relatives.

An earlier trial of Seabrook, in December 2011, resulted in a hung jury, when those on the panel couldn’t agree on whether or not the former Councilman was guilty or innocent.

#Yanks lose

Rays Have Their Way with Yankees

Archer did not get the decision but handled Yankees again

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 1- Again at Yankee Stadium Monday night Chris Archer of the Tampa Bay Rays had his way with a team that can’t figure him out. The Yankees knew what they were up against when Archer got on the mound. His last start in the Bronx was July 27 of last season, a 2-0 shutout. Though he did not figure in the decision of the Rays 4-3 win 12-innings, a win for his team was more important.

Archer is a catalyst towards getting Tampa Bay back into contention. The first half is over, and the Rays are sitting last in the AL east with the second worst record in baseball. They need him, and David Price, if he is not traded, to get some wins for a second half run.

And when he is on the mound against the Yankees, Archer seems to almost make it appear it is a guarantee win. He was 4-0 coming into the game against New York, and left with a 3-2 lead but did not figure in the decision. Regardless a 1.51 ERA in five career starts against the Yankees is impressive.

“I don’t know what it is,” he said about pitching in the Bronx and the Yankees. Archer pitched seven innings and was that close to another win. But the Yankees’ Brian Roberts tied the game with one-out in the ninth inning.

Had he won, Archer would have been the first pitcher to go 5-0 starting a career against the Yankees. The last one to do that was Hall of Famer Walter Johnson of the Washington Senators, from 1907-08, when the Yankees were known as the Highlanders.

Archer smiled when he was told that he would have been in great company.

 “I just have success against this team and it’s cool because it’s a little different team from last year,” said Archer. “When I have good catcher and good defense behind me it lifts our spirits. We’ve been playing really well as of late.”

It was that type of game for the Yankees, again failing to get the runners home and capitalizing on that home run by Roberts to right field. They lost for the seventh time in nine games but only trail first place Toronto by 2-1/2 games in a mediocre division. 

Mediocre enough that if the Rays go on any type of winning streak they could make a run in the second half, as they have won eight of their last 12-games. 

 Archer knows that significance of not getting a win on his record. A win for the team is more important. The Rays are looking to narrow their 9-1/2 game deficit in the division.

 It may look impossible, but mediocrity and good pitching can make it interesting by September.

“He is still learning for a young pitcher and getting better,” Rays’ manager Joe Maddon commented about his starter. “My theory, to win a road game in extra innings is good for nay teams moral.”

Said Archer, “We can come out and win a game like that is special for us. Knowing we can accomplish that it’s special for us. We are not looking at the standings. We know what team we are.”

On the contrary, the Yankees may still be trying to find out who they are. Because two key off-season acquisitions, Carlos Beltran and Brian McCann, part of a $450 million spending spree, continue to disappoint and are not driving in runs. They went a combined 2-for-10, in the four hour and thirty-five minute marathon.  

"I think every team in this division probably feels that they are somewhat fortunate to be where they are with the records that have," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "Being 41-40, you wouldn't necessarily think you would be right in the thick of it."

One thing is certain. The Yankees won’t face Archer again in this three-game series as they get David Price Tuesday night. 

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

Highbridge News: Deadly Weekend

Highbridge News: Deadly Weekend: Deadly Weekend Two Bronxites Dead After Wave of Weekend Violence By David Greene At least three people were killed and 16 injur...

Deadly Weekend

Deadly Weekend

Two Bronxites Dead After Wave of Weekend Violence

By David Greene

At least three people were killed and 16 injured after a wave of weekend violence across the city that has claimed the lives of two Bronxites.

Police say Highbridge resident Jason Bragg, 33, was discovered shot to death on 219 Street in St. Albans, Queens at 10:22 p.m. on Saturday, June 28. He had been shot once in the head and discovered lying face down on the sidewalk.

Bragg's killer remains at large, but police continue to investigate.

At 4:59 a.m. on Sunday, June 29, police were called to 2766 University Avenue at East 195 Street after a male victim was shot in the chest. He later died at St. Barnabas Hospital.

One police source stated, "acting on the description provided by a 911 caller, members of the 50th Precinct immediately initiated a canvas and the suspect was apprehended in the immediate area of the shooting."

Police would question and later charge Jason Delgado, 29, who lived across the street from the shooting scene at 2761 University Avenue, with murder, manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon.

Investigators would later identify the victim as Roderick Romney, 24, a life-long resident of nearby Reservoir Avenue.

One neighbor of Romney's claimed that the victim and perpetrator had been friends. Delgado was expected to be arraigned on Monday, June 30.

In other Bronx shootings, a man was shot in the back at just after midnight on Sunday, at 730 Kelly Street within the 41st Precinct command. The unidentified victim is expected to survive.

Later the same day a man was reportedly stabbed at 1725 Andrews Avenue. Police were looking for a suspect described as a black male, wearing a black shirt and black hat, who fled southbound on Andrews. The unidentified victim was recovering at a local hospital.

Two people were shot at just before 10 p.m. on Sunday at 1115 College Avenue. Police say a female victim transported herself to a local hospital and a 14-year old male was shot in the ankle. Both victims are recovering at Lincoln Hospital.

At just after midnight Monday, June 30, a person was reported shot at 3406 Gunther Avenue, that victim was not expected to survive and no other details were immediately available. 

Reporters covering the LGBT Pride Parade in Manhattan on Sunday say Mayor Bill de Blasio ignored questions about the shootings, but his office later issued a statement that read, "The Mayor and the Police Department are working closely to put hundreds of more officers on the streets, deploy cops to areas experiencing crime spikes and utilize innovative strategies to catch bad guys and keep neighborhoods safe."

Officials say that 100 of those uniformed officers will be hitting the street's across the five boroughs in the coming week.    

Highbridge News: #Yankees

Highbridge News: #Yankees: Sox Strike Again Fans Unsure Which Way #Yanks are Heading By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 30- The late June rivalry in ...

#Yankees

Sox Strike Again

Fans Unsure Which Way #Yanks are Heading

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 30- The late June rivalry in the Bronx with the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox still had some meaning. Ask the Red Sox, who took two of three from their AL east rivals with an 8-5 win Sunday night at Yankee Stadium. More importantly the Yankees had an opportunity to narrow the gap with first place Toronto and that awaits another day.

And that can happen over the next three games, narrowing their two game gap, or taking first place as this stretch of 15-straight with divisional opponents concludes with last place Tampa Bay. Yes it is still early, with Monday night the halfway point for the Yankees however winning series against teams in the division are just as vital.

“We don’t want to go out here and lose games,” Carlos Beltran said. “Feels right now these last two games we haven’t been able to do that.” Beltran did his part with a 3-for-4-night, including his 366^th career home run in the fourth inning, tying Lance Berkman for fourth place on baseball’s all-time home run list among switch hitters.

His eighth home run in the fourth inning, a solo shot to right at the time narrowed the Boston lead to 4-3. Mark Teixeira led off the inning with his team leading 15^th home run. Both long balls coming off John Lackey (9-5) who earned the win, allowing five run on six hits.

Lackey did not produce a quality start of 6.0 innings or more, three-runs or less, for the third time in his last 13 outings. And in the position the Red Sox are in, also at the halfway point of their schedule, they need Lackey to produce.

This is a year of the mediocre AL east. The Yankees know, with any type of winning streak that they can take control, even though they are not the Yankees that battled the Red Sox over the years when the division belonged to the two rivals.

“Anytime you win a series on the road, particularly against a team that's ahead of us, these are key,” Boston manager John Farrell said. There is plenty of time to overcome a six-game deficit in the division and the defending world champions with all of their first half problems are realizing the same thing:

Winning a series against the Yankees in the Bronx was important. The Red Sox, a team in transition, are also reaching into their minor league system for that extra help. Mookie Betts, their 21-year-old outfield prospect made his Major League debut and got his first single in the fourth inning.

“It was great,” he said. And it came with no extra pressure, if that can be understood, because it came during a game in what has been described as the biggest rivalry in sports. Derek Jeter can echo those sentiments and remember the first time he took part in the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry as a rookie.

Except, Jeter, did not get the first of many hits against Boston. He had many significant and big hits over the years when the Yankees and Red Sox battled down to the wire for a spot in the post season.

And then there is David Ortiz. He has made the Yankees miserable over the years in this rivalry, and that continued Sunday night. Ortiz has hit 40 home runs against the Yankees since putting on the Boston uniform in 2003, and he launched one off Chase Whitley in the third inning. It was the 450^th of his career and good for 37^th on the all-time list.

Whitley said he was frustrated about the pitch to Ortiz. The Yankees have got more than expected from the rookie right-hander, but this was his second straight loss of four innings and five earned runs. And it comes at a time when the Yankees want to make some significant inroads in the division.

Whitley can’t always be a difference maker as the Yankees wait for CC Sabathia and Michael Pineda to return from the disabled list. When these teams meet in September for six more games, pitching could be the decisive factor as to where they are headed in October.  

"We are all going through are issues, there is no doubt about it, in the division," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "As I said, it is probably going to come down to the end and it is going to be who handles the injuries the best. Obviously, we need to play better. I'm sure every club in our division says that."

This time the Red Sox were the better team, next time it could be the Yankees and that is what makes this rivalry so special. 

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

Highbridge News: Tanaka

Highbridge News: Tanaka: One Slip Sinks Tanaka Jon Lester Tops Masahiro Tanaka in Impressive Pitcher’s Duel at Yankee Stadium By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE ...

Throggs Neck News: Tanaka

Throggs Neck News: Tanaka: One Slip Sinks Tanaka Jon Lester Tops Masahiro Tanaka in Impressive Pitcher’s Duel at Yankee Stadium By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE ...

Bronx News Sports: Tanaka

Bronx News Sports: Tanaka: One Slip Sinks Tanaka Jon Lester Tops Masahiro Tanaka in Impressive Pitcher’s Duel at Yankee Stadium By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE ...

Fordham News: Tanaka

Fordham News: Tanaka: One Slip Sinks Tanaka Jon Lester Tops Masahiro Tanaka in Impressive Pitcher’s Duel at Yankee Stadium By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE ...

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Tanaka

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Tanaka: One Slip Sinks Tanaka Jon Lester Tops Masahiro Tanaka in Impressive Pitcher’s Duel at Yankee Stadium By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE ...

Tanaka

One Slip Sinks Tanaka

Jon Lester Tops Masahiro Tanaka in Impressive Pitcher’s Duel at Yankee Stadium

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 29- On Saturday night, a sold-out house of 48,433 at Yankee Stadium, the third largest crowd of the season, was attracted to another contest between the biggest rivals in baseball, the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox.

The two courageous and talented starting pitchers, Jon Lester of Boston and Masahiro Tanaka of New York hooked up in an outstandingly performed and fast moving pitcher’s duel.

Lester, 30, was starting his 237th game in the majors. The number of starts would be even higher, but Lester missed large parts of his first two seasons with Boston, 2006 and 2007, after being diagnosed with lymphoma in the summer of 2006. Tanaka, 25, was making his 16th start of his first season in MLB.

Lester pitched no-hit ball for the first five frames. The first hit he yielded was a single up the middle by Brett Gardner, leading off the sixth. After Gardner was thrown out trying to stretch his single to a double, the next two batters, Derek Jeter and Jacoby Ellsbury, each singled, but were left on base when the inning ended.

The only run given up by Lester was scored without a hit. Brian Roberts was safe on an error to begin the Yankee third. The next batter, Yangervis Solarte, was hit by a pitch. Gardner pushed them each up one base with a sacrifice bunt. The unearned run was scored on an infield groundout by Jeter.

Lester’s superlative performance of pitching eight innings without allowing an earned run, while only yielding five hits, was last equaled by a Red Sox pitcher in the Bronx when it was accomplished by Lester on July 3, 2008 in the original Yankee Stadium’s final season.

When asked to describe Lester’s outing, Yankee skipper Joe Girardi remarked, “He does what he always does. He cuts it; he sinks it; he locates. He pitched extremely well tonight.”

The leading Rookie-of-the-Year candidate, Tanaka, pitched his third complete game of the season. He walked one batter and surrendered seven hits, but only two pitches were responsible for his loss.

Catcher David Ross took a 1-0 pitch into the stands for a solo home run with one out in the third.

The winning run came with two out in the ninth on the 112th pitch thrown by the Yankee starter. With the count 1-2 on Mike Napoli, who had two hits and homered off Tanaka in their previous encounter on April22, Tanka threw a fast ball over the plate that Napoli sent into the right field stands.

Through his translator, Tanaka explained what happened, “The sign was for a breaking ball, but I wanted to go hard outside. That’s why I shook him [catcher Brian McCann] off twice. He asked for a splitter and a slider. I wanted to set up for a breaking ball on the next pitch, but I missed my spot.”

After the game, Girardi was asked why he didn’t remove Tanaka in the ninth. He responded with the following statement, “He’d been excellent all night. His stuff was really outstanding. I liked how he’d been throwing the baseball.” 

Neither deserved to lose such a well-pitched game yet one did. Both deserved to win such a well-pitched game yet only one did. That’s baseball, a game of inches.

 

Highbridge News: Pick Pocket

Highbridge News: Pick Pocket: Sticky Fingers Shops Along #Fordham Road Cops Release Pic of Pick Pocket By Dan Gesslein BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 27- Call her ...

Pick Pocket

Sticky Fingers Shops Along #Fordham Road

Cops Release Pic of Pick Pocket

By Dan Gesslein

BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 27- Call her Fordham’s most wanted. Cops are looking for a serial pickpocket who ripped off shoppers along Fordham Road over a six-month period.

Police released a photo of a sticky-fingered suspect, they say, struck at a Marshalls store seven times. The thief also struck other businesses in the Fordham shopping district including a Children’s Place, a cell phone store and a Burlington Coat Factory.

In incidents dating back to January, cops say the suspect repeatedly robbed shoppers at the Marshalls store, located at 2501 Grand Concourse, and made off with cash and credit cards. In those cases, the suspect took either victim’s wallet or purse and made off with cash ranging from $200 to $5. 

As spring arrived, the crook upped her game. On April 17, the thief struck at a T-Mobile store on Fordham Road. The suspect made off with a 63 year-old’s bag which contained a laptop, two cellphones and chargers.  

On May 3rd, the thief made off with a 70-year-old woman’s paycheck worth $1,044. The victim had put her property containing her paycheck on the counter of a supermarket when the thief helped herself.

The suspect is described as a 40-year-old black woman who is 5 foot 5 and weighs 135 pounds. She was last seen wearing a turquoise shirt and a beige hat.

Anyone with information is urged to call CRIMESTOPPERS at (800) 577-TIPS. The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.

All calls are strictly confidential.

Highbridge News: Old Timers' Day Photos

Highbridge News: Old Timers' Day Photos: From Yogi to Tino to Goose and Rickey legends returned to Yankee Stadium to take part in the 2014 Old Timers' Day festivities. (Phot...

Old Timers' Day Photos

From Yogi to Tino to Goose and Rickey legends returned to Yankee Stadium to take part in the 2014 Old Timers' Day festivities. (Photos by Ken Carozza)

Yankees Headin’ Back to the Top?

Yankees Headin’ Back to the Top?

Fans Think So

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 20- A three-game sweep over Toronto has the New York Yankees feeling confident. And it should carry towards more momentum Friday night when the Baltimore Orioles come to Yankee Stadium for three more But the Blue Jays are a team the Yankees have to chase in the AL east and Thursday night they got closer to the first place Jays.

David Phelps continued to be a momentum builder on the mound, and the Yankees once again scored first and tacked on runs. The bullpen took over as the Yankees won their third straight, 4-2.

A week ago, the Yankees had that continued issue of situational hitting missing from the lineup. The captain, Derek Jeter, struggled and Carlos Beltran, one of their key off- season free agent acquisitions, was coming off the disabled list. The past three nights in the Bronx, and against a powerful Toronto lineup, the Yankees looked like a first place team.

They are now tied in the loss column with Toronto, 1/1-2 games from first place. Does a chase for first place in mid-June have anything to do with this resurgence, or is this just the part of a long baseball season?

 “There is a lot of meaning to these games,” manager Joe Girardi commented. His team has won seven of their past nine games. “We all understand that, and we know they understand that. When you face each other 19 times, you look to try to catch people, put some distance between some people and win series."

The Yankees swept a series for the fourth time this season. This one, though, had significance with a stretch of 15 consecutive games against divisional opponents. The Orioles will present a challenge and Tampa Bay, in the cellar, always does. These were the first place Blue Jays who have gone 3-9 over their last 12 games, and been on top since the 22^nd of May.

"Hey, if you're going to play in prime time, you've got to perform on the big stage and we didn't do it," Toronto manager John Gibbons said. "We're fully capable of doing it. We just didn't do it. It'll be definitely good to move on.”

The Blue Jays move on. They will have time to figure out a way to break a 16-game losing streak at Yankee Stadium. Their next stint in the Bronx is scheduled at the end of next month.

The Yankees are looking at the positive side of things. The past three games everything came together, something they projected themselves to do with their off-season spending spree that surpassed $450 million in free agents. Brian McCann, the catcher, who had a go ahead home run the night before, realized the significance of winning three against the front runners.   

“We were able to score some runs,” he commented. “Swinging the bat better…It’s hard to pinpoint one thing. We’re putting together better consistent at bats. It’s big to win games. Obviously when you play teams in your division, you want to win.”

McCann is swinging the bat better. “We’re playing better baseball than we were the past couple of weeks,” he said. Jeter has been getting on base, a .405 clip in his last nine games and Brett Gardner, 1-for-3, Thursday night is batting .366, 15-for-41 over his last ten games.

"Big series for us," Adam Warren said. The reliever earned his second save of the season after retiring two Blue Jays’ in the ninth. The closer David Robertson needed a night off after pitching the first two games of the series.

 "It's nice to kind of see our team click a little bit and play some good baseball,” said Warren

These are words being said by a Yankees team that was looking for answers last week. That included the final two games out in Oakland that did not go their way. And, yes, everything is clicking, even with this contingency of a starting rotation because three quarters of the regulars are on the disabled list.

Aside from Masahiro Tanaka, and his 11-1 record, the manager is elated what he is getting from Chase Whitley and Vidal Nuno. Then there is David Phelps, (3-4) who tossed seven-innings and gave up two runs with a good back door cutter and curve, but allowed a home run to Melky Cabrera in the third inning.

“Refreshing to see guys like Chase (Whitley), one of the biggest things that motivated me,” Phelps commented. The sweep, it’s huge. We gotta win games against them.”

And winning games during this divisional stretch is what the Yankees did. Time will tell if this division will continue to be bunched with teams in September, and that also includes the Red Sox who may not be ready to give up their World Series crown.

We do know this though: Three games have sent a message that the Yankees intend to be a part of this equation by September.  

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