Granderson Rules in Cleveland!; Garza Pitches a No-Perfect-No-Hitter Gem!

Photo espn.com

The New York Yankees have to play every day this week. The hard work started this Monday opening a four game series against the Cleveland Indians, whose pitchers had allowed four homeruns at Progressive Field since June 16, and also they threw for a 2.06 ERA in the previous 14 home games.

A good challenge for the Yankees offense that scored 12 runs against the Kansas City Royals last Sunday, but definitely it wasn't easy to defeat the Indians Monday's starter Jake Westbrook at the beginning. However, Curtis Granderson did the trick in the eighth taking Westbrook deeper with a two-homerun and New York won 3-2. Javier Vazquez, who is one of the three pitchers who has defeated all the teams in MLB, pitched well: 7.0 IP, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 SO.

Westbrook retired the first ten batters in a row, and the 'Bombers' immediately ended the no-hitter with a Nick Swisher solo shot.

The Indians had scored in the second when Travis Hafner blasted a homerun. Later, they reached home plate one time in the sixth hitting two doubles by Jason Donald and Shin-Soo Choo.

Westbrook was dominant and came into the eighth with just two hits: Swisher's jack in the fourth and Granderson's single in the fifth. It looked difficult to hammer him, but Jorge Posada singled and Granderson shifted the scoreboard belting a deep ball to the right field, where all the three homeruns of the night were delivered.

On the other side, Vazquez stayed in for the eighth, but walked Michael Brantley to end his outing. There wasn't opportunity for the reliever Joba Chamberlain, whose struggling is making the Yankee manager, Joe Girardi, think about a pitchers mix to set up for Mariano Rivera. Chamberlain surrendered two runs on Sunday. Consequently, Girardi sent David Robertson and Boone Logan to the mound in Cleveland to pitch Joba's frame and let Rivera to close the game.

Still waiting

Alex Rodriguez hasn't gotten his 600 homerun. This Monday he was 0-4: struck out, grounded to double play, groundout and popout. If he hit it at Progressive Field, it will be his 11 at that ballpark.

Garza says: Give me Five No-Hitter!

The Crazy Year, or the Year of the Pitching. Matt Garza threw a no-hitter for the first time in Tampa Bay Rays history. He joined Roy Halladay (Phillies), Dallas Braden (Athletics), Ubaldo Jimenez (Rockies) and Edwin Jackson (Diamondbacks), who also reached the milestone this season. Braden's and Halladay's no-hitters were perfect games.

Garza faced 27 batters of the Detroit Tigers in the 5-0 victory, but he walked Brennan Boesch who then was part of a double play. The righty was very close to pitch a perfect game at Tropicana Field, and the Tigers starting pitcher Max Scherzer tried to follow Garza and didn't allow a hit through 5.2 innings.

Five no-hitters in 2010 tie 1991's record. In that year the fans watched seven, but two of them were a combination of pitchers.

The Rays had witnessed two perfect games, plus one no-hitter since July 23, 2010, when Mark Buehrle of the Chicago White Sox reached the perfection. This year, Braden's feat happened against them and Jackson kept the zero in their hits stat. Now, there are only two teams who still want to join the no-hitter club: Mets and Padres.

MLB Results: July 26

Yankees 3 - Indians 2

Marlins 4 - Giants 3. Edgar Renteria, five at bats, three strike outs.

Reds 2 - Brewers 3. Orlando Cabrera didn't bat a hit in four appearances at the plate.

Tigers 0 - Rays 5
Red Sox 6 - Angels 3
Twins 19 - Royals 1
Rockies 4 - Phillies 5
Mariners 1 - White Sox 6
Cubs 5 - Astros 2
Orioles 5 - Blue Jays 9

Standings.

Yankees win!



Read Franklin Gutierrez' interview (Spanish). He plays for the Mariners.

Let's go Yankees!
¡Por la lucha XXVIII! ¡Todos a portar el 28!

Hughes couldn't Follow Lee...

Photo img.slate.com

The Seattle Mariners stepped up to the challenge of the first game at Yankee Stadium and defeated the New York Yankees 7-4 in a confrontation that didn't have bearing on what we expected to see: an excellent pitching match. The lefty Cliff Lee had an astounding performance, but the righty Phil Hughes couldn't be on the mound as the '2010 Ace Hughes': 5.2 IP, 10 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO.

Lee pitched his third consecutive complete game: 9.0 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO. It was his fourth in his last five outings, so it's really hard to beat the pitcher who also threw nine innings for the Phillies in Game 1 of the 2009 World Series.

Nick Swisher, the only Yankee player who hardly hurt Lee, blasted two homeruns in the first and in the sixth. Then, trailing by five in the ninth, the 'Bombers' tried to have a magic rally like in Los Angeles, but they only score twice: an error following Robinson Cano's base hit, and Jorge Posada's ground rule double gave the Yanks the last runs of the night.

On the other side, Hughes, who rested 10 days, allowed a run in the second, the third, the fourth, the fifth, and three in the sixth.

The Mariners players with the productive impact were Ichiro Suzuki and Rob Johnson, who drove in two runs; but Franklin Gutierrez was also important hitting a solo homerun, scoring twice and getting the Yankees defense to make a mistake fielding his hit. The shortstop Jack Wilson also got an RBI.

The Yankees can overcome this loss on Wednesday, but they will have to face Felix Hernandez (5-5, 3.28), and wish that Javier Vazquez (6-6, 5.16) will continue as the 'Good Vazquez'.

MLB Results: June 29

Mariners 7 - Yankees 4

Phillies 9 - Reds 6 (10). Orlando Cabrera hit one single, scored one run and drove in another one in five at bats.

Dodgers 4 - Giants 2. Edgar Renteria, 1-4.

Rays 5 - Red Sox 8
Tigers 4 - Twins 11
Diamondbacks 0 - Cardinals 8
Astros 5 - Brewers 7

White Sox 4 - Royals 3
Pirates 1 - Cubs 3
Nationals 7 - Braves 2
Mets 6 - Marlins 7
Blue Jays 4 - Indians 5
Athletics 4 - Orioles 2
Rangers 5 - Angels 6
Rockies 6 - Padres 3

Let's go Yankees!
¡Por la lucha XXVIII! ¡Todos a portar el 28!

Eight = Four + Victory!

Photo: media.nj.com

When the Toronto Blue Jays were defeating 2-0 and sweeping the New York Yankees, a late four run rally gave the 'Bombers' a 4-3 victory at Rogers Centre this Sunday, the day that the pitcher Javier Vazquez really wasn't able to lose because he gave his best performance of the season.

The 'Bombers' had left three runners in scoring position before Derek Jetet got a RBI double in the eighth. In that inning the tying and the go ahead runs were on base and the Yankees struggled striking out with Nick Swisher, and Alex Rodriguez, who had the bases loaded after the Blue Jays walked Mark Teixeira.

However, 'A-Rod' was lucky in his at bat due to Brett Gardnet who scored thanks to a wild pitch of the closer Jason Frasor, and Robinson Cano drove in the third and fourth run batting a single. The little Yankees festival began when the starter Brandon Morrow and the reliever Scott Downs (the losing pitcher) hit Francisco Cervelli and Gardner respectively with their pitches.

If I were Javier Vazquez and the Yankees hadn´t won, I'd be very upset and disappointed because the Blue Jays' batters struck out nine times and only batted one hit against him through seven innings. I would be depressed because the hit was a two-run homerun by Vernon Wells that allowed the Blue Jays to take a 2-0 lead in the sixth, and it looked like a chance for the Blue Jays to sweep the three game series.

Yankees' fans felt jittery when Joba Chamberlain pitched in the bottom of the eighth. The right hander was vulnerable facing Jose Molina and Fred Lewis. A scary double and a single changed the scoreboard to a one run game. Fortunately, Joba got a double play when Aaron Hill was at the plate. Then, Damaso Mart dominated Adam Lind, and Mariano Rivera in the ninth got his 13th save of the year.

This Monday will be a day off for the Yankees and Tuesday they will come back to play in Baltimore.

Groin

'A-Rod' left the game with right groin tightness, but hopefully he'll play on Tuesday against the Orioles.

MLB results: June 6

Yankees 4 - Blue Jays 3

Reds 5 - Nationals 4 (10). Orlando Cabrera, 1-5. He got a double and scored a run.

Giants 6 - Pirates 5 (10). Edgar Renteria is still injured. Possible return for mid June.

Rays 9 - Rangers 5
Red Sox 3 - Orioles 4 (11)
Padres 6 - Phillies 5 (10)
Tigers 2 - Royals 7
Marlins 6 - Mets 7
Cubs 3 - Astros 6
Brewers 4 - Cardenals 3 (10)
Indians 7 - White Sox 8
Rockies 3 - Diamondbacks 2
Braves 4 - Dodgers 5 (11)
Angels 9 - Mariners 4
Twins 4 - Athletics 5

Standings.

Yankees win!



Let's go Yankees!
¡Por la lucha XXVIII! ¡Todos a portar el 28!

Happy come back!

Photo nypost.com

Welcome back! Not writing for one week it's a lot of time, but in this short period the New York Yankees remembered their real style : Two victories in Minnesota and three at Yankee Stadium against the Cleveland Indians with AJ Burnett, Andy Pettitte and Phil Hughes on the peak. I'm glad to return and tell you that the Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles 3-1this Tuesday.

I'm glad to be in the blog again and tell you that Javier Vazquez struggled in Minnesota, but on Tuesday allowed the Orioles to create only one danger when a homerun was blast by Corey Patterson in the sixth inning. That big shot was only one of the four hits that the Orioles batted against the right hander. In seven innings, Vazquez found the correct way to continue improving, striking out seven batters and walking one player.

The Yankees scored thanks to Curtis Granderson's jack in the fifth, and a seven inning error when Alex Rodriguez got a ground ball. The Orioles defense mistake was made by the third baseman Miguel Tejada allowing Derek Jeter and Nick Swisher to run home. The bad play ended in a loss for Brian Matusz after an interesting performance in 6.2 innings: 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 SO.

The blog is back, the good Yankees are back!

-- Perdón a mis lectores en español por no traducir este artículo. --

MLB results: June 1

Orioles 1 - Yankees 3

Reds 9 - Cardinals 8. Orlando Cabrera, 1-5. Hit a double and drove in two runs.

Rockies 2 - Giants 1 (11). Edgar Renteria has misfortune. He's on the fifteen day disabled list as a result of a pulled right hamstring.

Atletics 4 - Red Sox 9
Rays 7 - Blue Jays 6
Twins 1 - Mariners 7
Phillies 3 - Braves 7
Diamondbacks 0 - Dodgers 1 (10)
Mets 4 - Padres 2
Rangers 9 - White Sox 6
Angels 3 - Royals 6
Nationals 7 - Astros 8
Indians 3 - Tigers 2
Cubs 2 - Pirates 3
Brewers 4 - Marlins 6

Yankees win!


Let's go Yankees!
¡Por la lucha XXVIII! ¡Todos a portar el 28!

Big Walk-Off 'Pie'! Yanks defeat Red Sox in final inning!

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Photo: Reuters

It’s difficult to describe tonight’s game. Another amazing match was played by the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox. An unbelievable ninth inning ended an epic fight at Yankee Stadium because two homeruns changed the 'Bombers''s destiny, who defeated their eternal rival 11-9.

They were losing 7-9 when the bottom of the ninth started, but Jonathan Papelbon once again struggled against the Yankees. A couple of two run homeruns were blasted: First, a ‘bomb’ by Alex Rodriguez to tie the game and then an enormous shot by Marcus Thames to get the first 2010 walk-off victory. If you were missing AJ Burnett’s pies don’t worry, he finally anointed one. Papelbon, the Red Sox’ closer, was the losing pitcher too on April 7th.

When both teams go out to the field the fans never come back home disappointed. It doesn’t matter which month, they will combat as in an October playoffs series. That happened today. The Yankees had a big rally of five runs in the first inning. ‘A-Rod’ singled for two RBIs, Robinson Cano got a base hit to drive in one run, Francisco Cervelli doubled (1 RBI) and Thames batted a sacrifice fly.

After that, Adrian Beltre’s bat gave the first run to the Red Sox thanks to a hit in the second, but in the bottom Mark Teixeira doubled and the Yankees scored for the sixth time.

Despite the 6-1 lead, the Boston’s resurrection began. David Ortiz homered in the fourth and JD Drew did the same in the fifth, but at that moment two teammates were on base. New York also attacked in that fifth due to one of tonight’s stars, Thames, who hit a RBI double before the Red Sox batted three scaring homeruns: Victor Martinez in the sixth, and Kevin Youkilis (2-RBI) and Martinez in the eighth.

Boston’s starter Daisuke Matsuzaka threw awfully: 4.2, 9 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 3 BB and 3 SO. On the other hand, Phil Hughes wasn’t ‘hughest’ as in other games: 5.0, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB and 3 SO.

Consequently, the Yankees bullpen had to charge overtime. It’s ironic that Javier Vazquez won throwing only one out. He will be on the mound next Friday vs. the Mets in the beginning of the Subway Series.

The Yankees were going to lose as the day before against the Twins, but the 'aura and mystique' didn’t fail: ‘A-Rod’ and Thames explained with two deep balls the Yankees’ tradition and pride.

It’s difficult to choose the player of the game: Thames (2-4, 1 R, 4 RBI), Rodriguez (2-5, 2 R, 4 RBI) or Cervelli (2-4, 3 R, 1 RBI)? The walk-off could be the reason to give Thames the award, but don´t forget ‘A-Rod''s tying blast and Cervelli’s astounding and constant performance.

It t wasn’t October, it was another great Yanks – Sox rivalry chapter!

MLB results: May 17

Red Sox 9 - Yankees 11

Brewers 3 - Reds 6. Orlando Cabrera, doubled, singled, scored one run and batted in one run. 2-5.

Giants 1 - Padres 3. Edgar Renteria didn't play (disabled list).

Indians 3 - Rays 4 (11)
Mariners 4 - Athletics 8
Astros 2 - Dodgers 6
Nationals 2 - Cardinals 6
Rockies 2 - Cubs 4 (11)
Angels 3 - Rangers 4
Mets 3 - Braves 2
Diamondbacks 5 - Marlins 1
Twins 8 - Blue Jays 3
Pirates 2 - Phillies 12
Royals 4 - Orioles 3
White Sox - Tigers (Postponed-rain)

Standings.

Lea este artículo en español.

Yankees win!


Let's go Yankees!
¡Por la lucha XXVIII! ¡Todos a portar el 28!

Yes, it was Vazquez; Hughes, Superb Again!

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Photo: baseball.bornbybits.com

Wednesday's doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers ended positively for the New York Yankees. They lost the first game 0-2 , but Javier Vazquez played as the Javier Vazquez who won 15 games and got a 2.87 ERA with the Atlanta Braves last season. In the second match, the 'Bombers' beat 8-0 with a repeated fact that is part of the Yankees' success in the season: a superb Phil Hughes.

I wrote yesterday that I was going to have nightmares as a result of Vazquez' stats previous to the first game of the doubleheader. Despite the 0-2 lost, the Puerto Rican pitcher finally showed his best performance for the first time in six appearances. It's difficult to believe, but it was true!

Vazquez played through seven innings and allowed five hits, two runs, two earned runs and seven strike outs. Do you want to know how many walks he threw? Just two!

In his last outings he had good offense response, but on Wednesday afternoon the Yankees bats were silenced by the starter Rick Porcello (7.0, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO), so Vazquez deserve a round of applause. His only sin happened in the sixth when he allowed four of the five hits and the two runs driven in by Magglio Ordóñez and Brennan Boesch.

Hughes, 'hughest'!

Phil Hughes doesn't want to lose this season and also is a great enemy of the rivals' runs. The right handed pitcher has five victories -no losses- and an envious 1.38 ERA. He continues throwing excellently and he never feels tired of pitching awesomely. In the second game at Comerica Park he got eight strike outs, only one walk and pitched for seven innings.

With Hughes pitching, two runs would be enough to get the victory against Jeremy Bonderman (7.0, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 SO) and the Tigers, but the Yankees offense, which was missed in the previous game, scored six times in the ninth.

The best batters of the night were Mark Teixeira (2-5, 1 run scored,2 RBIs), Alex Rodriguez (2-5, 2 RBIs) and Brett Gardner (3-5, 2 runs scored, 1 RBI).

Mariano Rivera finally came back and pitched the last inning. If he hadn't been absent since April 30, he wouldn't have thrown. He needed innings and outs.

The series in Detroit is not over. This Thursday the forth match will be played at 1:00 p.m. (East time - 12:00 p.m. in Colombia). CC Sabathia (4-1, 3.04) vs. Justin Verlander (3-2, 4.50).

MLB results: May 12

Yankees 0 - Tigers 2 (Game 1)
Yankees 8 - Tigers 0 (Game 2)

Reds 5 - Pirates 0. Orlando Cabrera, 1-5, one hit and one RBI.

Padres 5 - Giants 2. Edgar Renteria is on the dissabled list. He might come back in late May.

Rays 4 - Angels 3
Blue Jays 3 - Red Sox 2
Mariners 2 - Orioles 5
Athletics 1 - Rangers 10
Astros 9 - Cardinals 6
Marlins 3 - Cubs 4
Nationals 6 - Mets 4
White Sox 2 - Twins 3
Braves 9 - Brewers 2
Dodgers 6 - Diamondbacks 3
Indians 4 - Royals 0
Phillies 3 - Rockies 4 (10) (Game 1)
Phillies - Rockies (Game 2-Postponed due to rain)

Standings.

Lea este artículo en español.

Yankees win!


Let's go Yankees!
¡Por la lucha XXVIII! ¡Todos a portar el 28!

Walking for Victory!

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Photo: chrisoleary.com

Five of ten walks were transformed in runs by the New York Yankees and Javier Vazquez allowed only three runs in Tuesday's 7-3 victory over the Oakland Athletics. It’s the fifth straight victory for the defending champions. Vazquez (5.1, 6 SO, 3 BB, 6 H and 3 ER) won for the first time in the season, but he still needs to improve.

It seemed that Gio Gonzalez was going to be dominant at the Oakland Coliseum. However, after he struck out Derek Jeter and caused Nick Johnson to bat a fly ball, the Yankees made three runs in the first inning. The left-handed pitcher loaded the bases after allowing a double from Mark Teixeira and a walking Alex Rodriguez and Robinson Cano. Then, Jorge Posada (1-RBI) and Nick Swisher (2-RBI) singles gave the Yankees a 3-0 lead.

It was an important advantage for Vazquez to throw with more confidence after losing in the first two season appearances. The right-hander was scared when the three run advantage was threatened by Kurt Suzuki's single and Eric Chavez' double with no outs in the second inning. The Yankees defense eliminated the A’s opportunities to score. Suzuki was put out at home in a fieldier’s choice by Rodriguez when Mark Ellis batted. Then, Vazquez did an amazing double play: He stopped a fast line in the air from Travis Buck and threw to first because Ellis was not touching the base.

Buck homered in the fifth inning, but this shot wasn’t important in that moment in the scoreboard because Rodriguez hit before a monster homerun to center field in the top of that inning. It was a three run shot! ‘A-Rod’ got that big hit against the pitcher Craig Breslow, who replaced Gonzalez after he walked Johnson and Teixeira.

The problems came in the sixth inning with a two run homerun by Suzuki. The Athletics were losing only by three, so Joe Girardi called the bullpen. The lefty Boone Logan had his first chance of the season and threw the last two outs of the sixth and two in the seventh.

Logan left the game leaving the bases loaded. Joba Chamberlain had the goal to stop the danger and he stroke out Kevin Kouzmanoff. Ex Yankee pitcher Edwar Ramirez played before in the top of the ‘lucky inning’ and saw how his ex teammates scored another run, which was batted in by Posada. Johnson, who was on base thanks to a walk, scored.

The ninth inning was a disgrace. Damaso Marte came and started with a walk. Girardi immediately brought in Mariano Rivera.

Oakland pitching allowed ten walks and five of them finished in a run. Good work for the Yankees players. Wednesday’s game (10:00 p.m., Eastern time) starting pitchers: Phil Hughes (1-0, 3.60) vs. Ben Sheets (1-0, 2.65).

MLB results: April 20

Yankees 7 - Athletics 3

Dodgers 9 - Reds 11. Orlando Cabrera, one run batted in. He went 3-0.

Giants 0 - Padres 1. Edgar Renteria couldn't get a hit in four appearances at the plate.

Rangers 6 - Red Sox 7
Orioles 1 - Mariners 3
Royals 3 - Blue Jays 4
Cubs 0 - Mets 4
Brewers 8 - Pirates 1
Rays 1 - White Sox 4
Indians 1 - Twins 5
Phillies 3 - Braves 4 (10)
Rockies 10 - Nationals 4
Marlins 5 - Astros 7
Cardianls 7 - Diamondbacks 9
Tigers 5 - Angels 6

Standings.

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Yankees win!


Let's go Yankees!
¡Por la lucha XXVIII! ¡Todos a portar el 28!

Improvement wasn't enough

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Photo: bronxbaseballdaily.com

Great starting pitching for the New York Yankees is over! It ended last Wednesday when Javier Vazquez had a better outing against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim than Friday’s performance in Tampa Bay. However, the improvement wasn't enough and the Puerto Rican earned a 3-5 lost in the match at Yankee Stadium against the 'Halos' .

Compared with the 5.2 innings in Friday’s presentation, Vazquez allowed four runs in 5.1 and not 8. What a difference! He allowed eight hits at Tropicana Field, including two doubles and two homeruns. On Wednesday, hits were reduced to six (three doubles and no homeruns). Strikeouts and walks were roughly similar: 5 SO, 3 BB (Rays) vs. 4 SO, 2 BB (Angels).

The Angels scored two runs in the third and sixth against the right-hander pitcher. Erick Aybar, Bobby Abreu, Kendry Morales and Maicer Izturis batted in runs. Torii Hunter produced another run in the seventh, an inning thrown by reliever Alfredo Aceves.

Joel Piñeiro, also Puerto Rican, was solid against the Yankees’ offense, which only scored one time thanks to Nick Swisher’s triple. Piñeiro had seven strikeouts and no walks.

New York tried to come back in the eighth. Nick Johnson singled and Mark Teixeira grounded out, reducing the Angels’ lead.

The Yankees and Angels will close the series this Thursday at 6:00 p.m., Colombian time, 4:00 p.m., Seattle time. Scott Kazmir vs. Phil Hughes.

MLB results: April 14

Angels 5 - Yankees 3

Pirates 0 - Giants 6. Edgar Renteria, one hit, four at bats.

Reds 3 - Marlins 5. Orlando Cabrera rested. Jorge Cantu (Marlins), the first player in MLB history to register a hit and an RBI in the first nine games of the season.

Mets 5 - Rockies 6 (10)
Astros 1 - Cardinals 2
White Sox 11 - Blue Jays 1
Brewers 6 - Cubs 7
Rays 9 - Orioles 1
Red Sox 6 - Twins 3
Royals 7 - Tigers 3
Nationals 7 - Phillies 14
Rangers 6 - Indians 2
Atlhetics 2 - Mariners 4
Diamondbacks 9 - Dodgers 7 (11)
Braves 6 - Padres 1

Standings.

Lea este artículo en español.

Let's go Yankees!
¡Por la lucha XXVIII! ¡Todos a portar el 28!