Highbridge News: Yankees barely win

Highbridge News: Yankees barely win: Less Bx Bombers and More like Lucky SOBs And A-Rod is acting---humble?  By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 6...

Yankees barely win

Less Bx Bombers and More like Lucky SOBs

And A-Rod is acting---humble? 

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 6- Alex Rodriguez had his first four-hit game since May 22, 2011 against the New York Mets and he surpassed Barry Bonds for sole possession of second place on the all-time RBI list. He also bypassed Stan Musial for sole possession of eighth place in runs on baseball’s all-time list.

Records for A-Rod will continue to be a subject of discussion and he needs nine more hits to reach 3,000. But the story of the New York Yankees 8-7 win over the Los Angeles Angels Friday night in the Bronx is how they almost blew this game going into the ninth inning with an 8-1 lead.

“That would have been a really tough game to swallow if you lose,” said Yankees manager Joe Girardi. He had to use Dellin Betances out of the pen in that final inning when the Angels loaded the bases with no outs, trailing 8-6. Betances allowed his first earned run of the season and got the last three outs.

And because Angels manager Mike Scioscia pulled his big three after eight, Mike Trout, Albert Pujols and Erick Aybar,and because Girardi pulled Mark Teixeira  and Chase Headley, and switched Stephen Drew from second to third the scorecard became a mess.

But the story was one manager waving the white flag and another assuming a big lead was safe, and the Yankees doing their best to blow this one and the Angels coming up a run short for a tie in that six run ninth.

It could have been a game of highlights for Rodriguez. He continues to have this come back type of a season after sitting out all last year serving a suspension. and now has 28 RBI to go along with a .284 average and 12 home runs.

And it could have been a game that highlighted a Yankees win with the AL front runner for Comeback Player of the Year, Teixeira, who hit his 17th home run in the third inning that gave New York a 4-0 lead. Texeira with 43 RBI is among the top leaders and is one home run away from leading the league in that category.

Most of all this win saw the continued revival of Stephen Drew, who despite an anemic .173 average went 2-for-4 and has three home runs over his last four games. The second home run, his seventh in the sixth inning off Angels starter and loser Jered Weaver (4-5) gave New York a 7-1 lead and was that typical line drive Yankee Stadium home run to right-field.

“All my work and preparation is paying off,” Drew said.       

Girardi though has to be concerned about a bullpen, Esmil Rogers in particular. The right-hander could not get that final out and left the hard work go to Betances, an arm out of the pen that the manager wanted to preserve for the final two games of this series. Rogers pitched to five batters in the ninth and could not record an out.

“Just had a hard time getting that first out,” Girardi commented. “We need him (Rogers) to get him going.” And all forgotten again  was how starter Nathan Eovaldi (5-1) went the usual 5.1 innings and had to leave because he could not find the location, but he barely got the win.

“He pitched pretty good then lost the strike zone," Girardi said.

Though A-Rod should have been the center of attention, honor the milestones or not, he continues to establish new baseball marks for himself and the records are being logged for the books.

He said about more milestones and this horror of a win: “Means I’m getting older every day. I'm happy. Think I’m in a good place. All the milestones are coming home in front of the fans. They make me feel real comfortable.”

And as he gets closer to 3,000 hits, he said, “I wake up every morning thinking what I can do to help the team win. Right now the team is winning and that’s what’s most important and I’m having a lot of fun. Also important to see Betances get a big out when he didn’t have his best stuff.”

Yes it was important for Betances to get that save, one that should have never been needed as the Yankees won their fourth straight. Then again, this is becoming a Yankees season of the unexpected and in a eastern division where other teams don’t seem to take control, the Yankees with games like this will probably be in this to the end.

But this win, which appeared to be in jeopardy was not one for the liking.

That is something that will make a manager lose more hair and also make one to wonder: Are the Yankees despite the home runs, and knowing where to hit them in the Bronx, that good of a team to play ball in October?

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

#Yankees #ARod #Angels #Bronxnews

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Highbridge News: Bronx comes up short at Yankee Stadium

Highbridge News: Bronx comes up short at Yankee Stadium: Bronx comes up short at Yankee Stadium (Photos by Gary Quintal) Playing at Yankee Stadium Wednesday,...

Bronx comes up short at Yankee Stadium

Bronx comes up short at Yankee Stadium

(Photos by Gary Quintal)

Playing at Yankee Stadium Wednesday, High School of American Studies played East Side Community in the PSAL AA bracket of the Boys baseball championship. A five-run fifth inning for East Side Community fueled by two run scoring wild pitches sunk American Studies in a 7-0 loss. 

Highbridge News: Christie, Celebs Come Out to Support Cops

Highbridge News: Christie, Celebs Come Out to Support Cops: Christie, Celebs Come Out to Support Cops BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 5- Although the Yankees were playing 3,000 miles away in S...

Christie, Celebs Come Out to Support Cops

Christie, Celebs Come Out to Support Cops

BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 5- Although the Yankees were playing 3,000 miles away in Seattle on Tuesday, thousands of baseball fans were Yankee Stadium watching exciting action on the field.

The afternoon at the most celebrated baseball stadium in the world began with the PSAL AA Baseball Championship, the first game of PSAL championship doubleheader.

The first encounter of the day at Yankee Stadium was a one‐sided contest won by #12 ranked East Side Community Tigers (16‐3). The Tigers defeated the #2 ranked Senators of the High School of American Studies at Lehman College (18‐3) by a score of 7‐0. The star of the game was timothy Lopez, a junior, who excelled on the mound and at bat. He pitched a complete game, 2 hit shutout while getting three hits and driving in three runs.

The second game was between two of New York City’s perennial high school standout teams, #3 ranked George Washington (21‐2) and top ranked Tottenville (21‐2). The teams last met for the championship in 2011. The toughly contested game was an exciting and interesting pitchers’ duel.

According to many observers senior Wesley Rodriguez of the G.W. Trojans is expected to be drafted by the third round in Monday’s MLB’s First‐Year Player Draft. Rodriguez scored the only run of the 1‐0 victory of the Trojans in the fourth frame after doubling and scoring on a single by Leadry Castro.

In the bottom of the final frame, 7th, with one out and two men on base, Rodriguez came to the mound. After surrendering an infield single, the senior retired the next two batters for the win.

Rodriguez is considered the #1 prospect in the metropolitan area. This season, he compiled a 7‐0 mark and 85 strikeouts in 38 innings. He yielded only seven hits and not an earned run. His veteran coach, Steve Mandl, who coached Manny Ramirez two decades ago, commented on his senior, “He’s the best pitcher I’ve had and one of the best three hitters I’ve had.”

The third game of the day was a celebrity softball game hoisted by Boomer Esiason and Craig Carton to honor recently fallen NYPD officers Brian Moore, Rafeal Ramos and Wenjian Liu and to raise funds for the Silver Shield Foundation, founded by George M. Steinbrenner more than 30 years ago, the NYPD Widows’ and Children’s Fund and the families of the three deceased officers.

A wide variety of sports celebrities were on the field for the softball contest. Looking familiar in their baseball uniforms were former Yankees Joe Torre (#6), Willie Randolph (#30) and Bernie Williams (#51). Rival NFL coaches Tom Coughlin (Giants) and Rex Ryan (Bills) posed for photos together. New St. Johns’ men’s basketball coach Chris Mullin discussed his new job with a group of reporters. Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie were on the field.

Christie, at third base, was the unofficial MVP of the contest. He told reporters, who questioned his presence in New York, before the contest, that this event was important to the entire region and that he was proud to be at the Stadium for it.

Before the game, New York Yankees COO Lonn Trost spoke of the Yankee Stadium as a public trust whose facilities should be used for such an important charitable endeavor and a place for future MLB players should have the thrill of playing.

#NYPD #ChrisChristie #YankeeStadium

Highbridge News: Now it's Murder

Highbridge News: Now it's Murder: Now it's Murder Fat Albert and Batman Beat Down Victim Dies BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 4- Three men wanted for a baseball bat beat do...