STUNNED!

Yanks Shut Out by Tigers; Fall to 0-2 in ALCS

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, October 15- The Yanks now have their work cut out for them after being shut out by the Tigers, 3-0, to fall to 0-2 in the ALCS. The two teams will now travel to Detroit to play games three and four and, if necessary, game five. If the Yankees fail to win two of the three, their season will end. If they manage the near impossible task on the road, the two clubs will return to the Bronx to play game seven in Yankee Stadium next Saturday night.

As most of the post-season contests in which the Yankees have played this year, the starting pitchers easily handled the opposing hitters they faced. Hiroki Kuroda pitched with short rest, three days between starts, for the first time in his career in the majors.

The hurler from Japan must not have found the effort too taxing as he retired the first 15 Tiger batters. He fanned seven of the first nine he faced. Jhonny Peralta’s single to lead off the sixth ended Kuroda’s bid for a perfect game and no-hitter.

The first run of the game was scored in the top of the seventh. Quinton Berry doubled and crossed the plate after a single to right by Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera.

After striking out two batters to begin the eighth, four straight singles and a walk led to two runs. Kuroda left the game after 7.2 innings with 11 K’s and five hits. Although all three runs scored were allotted to Kuroda, relief pitchers Boone Logan and Joba Chamberlain each yielded a single that drove in a run.

Starter Anibal Sanchez and those who followed him to the mound collectively kept the Yanks scoreless. The righty gave up three scattered hits in seven frames. Mark Teixeira doubled with two out in the first. Nick Swisher singled with two gone in the second. Raúl Ibañez led off the fourth with a single.

The only other base hit for the Yanks was a single with two out in the ninth.

Detroit’s veteran skipper Jim Leyland commented on the two starters, “I think that both starting pitchers were absolutely terrific.”

According to the batting of the Yanks in the post-season, the name Bronx Bombers is outdated. Although Alex Rodriguez has received the brunt of the jeers from the fans in attendance for obtaining 3 hits in 23 at bats including 12 strikeouts without a run batted in the first seven post-season games, he is not alone in lack of success.

Robinson Cano has two hits in 32 at bats. He has been without a hit in his last 26 at bats, a single post-season record. Nick Swisher has four hits in 26 at bats. In 26 at bats, Curtis granderson has hit safely on three times. He has fanned 13 times. Russell Martin has hit safely five times in 26 ay bats. Eric Chavez has yet to get a hit in 11 times at bat.

The Yanks and Tigers will move to Comerica Park in Detroit for the next two or three games, depending on whether or not the Tigers can sweep the series. The difficulty will be intensified by the absence of Yankees captain Derek Jeter. The injured shortstop was batting .333 in the 2012 post-season.

To make matters worse, Tiger ace Justin Verlander will start in game #3 against Phil Hughes.

Manhattan News: Jeter is Done for the Season!

Manhattan News: Jeter is Done for the Season!: Yankees say they will move on By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, October 14- Now the question is can the New York Yankees survive and w...

Jeter is Done for the Season!

Yankees say they will move on

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, October 14- Now the question is can the New York Yankees survive and win their ALCS series with the Detroit Tigers with the loss of their captain Derek Jeter? It is an answer the Yankees will have to answer on the field with game two in the Bronx at Yankee Stadium Sunday afternoon.

The Yankees say they will move on, the same way they did when all-time saves leader Mariano Rivera went down for the season with a freak torn knee injury earlier this season. It has been a season of adversity, injuries to a pitching staff and position player at one time or another.

But this is Jeter, the captain, and he is hard to replace. Jayson Nix will replace Jeter at shortstop and Eduardo Nunez was added to the roster. The manager, Joe Girardi knows this is the most difficult dilemma to deal with as the Yankees try to even the series Sunday before heading to Detroit for what is hoped to be three more games.

“Just like Mo said, ‘we have to move on,’” commented Yankees manager Joe Girardi when asked about the impact on losing Jeter, the reference to what Rivera said to the team when he went down with his injury back on May 3^rd shagging fly balls in the outfield at Kaufman Stadium in Kansas City.

But it is hard to move on without a player like Jeter, especially this time of year as the Yankees try to move another step to their 28^th world championship.

“Is it a big loss? Yes,” said Yankees General Manger Brian Cashman. “Is it something that’s going to stop us from dreaming about achieving our goal, no,” he said.

And perhaps the loss of Jeter won’t stop their goal. But Nix is not Jeter on the field, neither is Nunez. Girardi was asked about possibly utilizing the slumping Alex Rodriguez at short. “No I wouldn’t do that,” he said. “It’s just been too long.”

To hear Cashman say that Jeter will “No longer be a player for us this year,” is hard to comprehend but a broken ankle, that will take three months to recover, is that huge loss for the Yankees and perhaps for the game of baseball. They said Jeter will be well enough to be ready for spring training in February.

In the second inning, Jeter got his 200^th career post season hit with a single. Later, in that 12^th inning, when things fell apart for the Yankees, he made that play ranging toward second base, one that he has done so well over the years.

This time, he had to be helped off the field. And many of the 47,122 who remained on a long Saturday night, into a Sunday morning of baseball were silent. The captain was down and told Girardi, “No, don’t carry me.”

They chanted “Derek Jeter, Derek Jeter.” He heard them. And his teammates consoled him as he was helped to be immediately examined. That left ankle, that has been hindered one way or another this season could no longer take the punishment of wear and tear, though this fracture reportedly was in a different area.

Now without their captain, the Yankees will have to do this, themselves. Not that Jeter has been banging the ball all over the field, but he always seems to ignite a rally, get on base, and make the big play.  Five championship rings in the same uniform are enough to state the value of Derek Jeter, especially in October.

Jeter did not have a reaction when he was examined and told by team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad that he could no longer play. He was in the same room with Cashman, Joe Torre, his former manager who he played for on four world championship teams, Reggie Jackson, and former teammate Tino Martinez.

Twice with two-run home runs in the ninth inning, including one from Raul Ibanez, maybe the new “Mr. October” off Joe Valverde, it appeared this was going to be another one of those great October nights in the Bronx when the Yankees tied the important first game in a best of seven series.

However, the loss of Jeter now makes it that more difficult for the New York Yankees. They say the loss of their captain will be overcome. They will play for Jeter and are inspired to win that championship for their leader.

“It’s a tough moment for all of us because of what he means to our team,” said Ibanez.

And an obstacle that Cashman and the Yankees will know how to deal with in this season of adversity that continues at the most important time of October baseball.

“The job is to overcome every obstacle that comes our way,” said Cashman. “We have one team standing in our way to get to the World Series.” And one player short of that goal, the most important part of their quest to get there again.

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com

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Manhattan News: What a difference a day makes

Manhattan News: What a difference a day makes: Yank fans go from cheers to jeers about slumping Sluggers To Fears for Injured Jeter By Howard  Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, Octo...

What a difference a day makes

Yank fans go from cheers to jeers about slumping Sluggers

To Fears for Injured Jeter

By Howard  Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, October 14- After each successfully completing five-game series to win the ALDS, the Yankees and Tigers engaged in the opener of the ALCS on Saturday night. As in the previous post-season play this year, the starting pitchers on both clubs dominated the hitters.  

Veteran Andy Pettitte, one of only six major leaguers in history to play in the post-season when younger than 24 and older than 40, did his usual impressive job. In only one inning did he allow more than one runner to reach base.

The sixth frame was the one in which the first runs of the game were scored. Austin Jackson, a former Yankee prospect, tripled to lead off the inning. Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera was walked intentionally. The gambit did not work as singles by the next two Detroit batters, Prince Fielder and Delmon Young each knocked in a run.

Pettitte left the game after 6.2 innings having given up those two runs and seven hits.

Two more runs were scored by Detroit in the eighth off reliever Derek Lowe. The first was on a home run by Delmon Young.

Doug Fister, the winner of the final game over the Yankees in the 2011 ALDS, blanked the Yanks in 6.1 innings. He surrendered six hits and walked three batters, but none resulted in a run.

In the first, second and sixth innings, the Yanks threatened, left the bases loaded, but could not score. Fister walked three in the first, but Alex Rodriguez ended the inning with a ground out. Three Yankees, Russell Martin, Derek Jeter and Ichiro Suzuki, singled, but the inning concluded as Robinson Cano grounded out. An error, a double by Raúl Ibañez and a walk to Nick Swisher filled the sacks in the sixth, but Curtis Granderson and Martin fanned to end the frame.

Game #1 was the first post-season game in the lengthy history of the franchise that the Yankees left the bases loaded three times in a single game.

Fister was removed after 6.1 innings having given up six hits and four walks, but most importantly, no runs.

The relief corps did not have the same success as the starters. Detroit closer Jose Valverde failed to close out the contest in the ninth. Two home runs tied the score. Martin singled and was driven in by a homer to right by Suzuki. The veteran from Japan was the batting star of the Yanks with four by hits. With two out, Mark Teixeira drew a walk and scored on a two-run homer by the usual suspect as hero Raúl Ibañez.

The score remained knotted until the twelfth. With David Phelps on the bump, Cabrera walked to begin the frame, but three other Tigers hit successfully to score two runs.

The loss of the game was not the worst loss the Yanks suffered in the game. Jeter fielded a ground ball by Jhonny Peralta, fell, rolled over and could not rise to his feet without assistance.

Manager Joe Girardi told a hushed group of reporters, “His [left] ankle is fractured. He’s out. He will not play for us anymore this year. They’re talking about a three month recovery period. It will not threaten his career. It’s a pretty emotional jolt.”

How much will the loss of the Yankee captain hinder the chances of the Yanks to win four of the next six contests. If they do not obtain those victories, the Yanks will be the losers of the three post-season series played between the two clubs since 2006.

Hiroki Kuroda, on three days of rest, will start the second game for the Yanks and righty Anibal Sanchez will start for Detroit.

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Manhattan News: HERE WE GO AGAIN!

Manhattan News: HERE WE GO AGAIN!: Bring on the Tigers By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, October 13- There is one difference for the New York Yankees when they op...

HERE WE GO AGAIN!

Bring on the Tigers

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, October 13- There is one difference for the New York Yankees when they open the best of seven American League Championship Series tonight in the Bronx- CC Sabathia, who pitched the complete game division series win Friday night against Baltimore, won’t start the opening game.

And for the Yankees, who advanced to their 15^th ALCS, Sabathia is a key if the series should go the full route. Because not having Sabathia pitch game one against Detroit means it’s probable the Yankees ace will get two starts instead of a possible three.

However, this is Sabathia, and these are the Yankees. Anything is possible after a remarkable and low scoring series with the Orioles.

“He’s our ace,” said manager Joe Girardi about the complete game and 8/2-3 innings that won game one of the Baltimore series.  “That’s the bottom line. He’s done an unbelievable job since coming here. But that was vintage CC.”

Girardi said there was no question about Sabathia clinching and completing the deciding game. “He was going. It was his game,” he said. So many times we have heard Girardi refer to his ace that way, even when Sabathia struggled at times during the season.

Ask the Yankees. They know how valuable Sabathia is. After game one in Baltimore there were no signs of fatigue. Friday night it was the same. He became the second Yankee to throw a complete game in a ALDS game, the first being David Wells, and 17/2 innings tossed surpassed David Cone in a division series.

“He usually gets better as the game goes along and he has a way of stepping it up. I have a ton of confidence in CC even when I knew he was going through his struggles. I knew he would get it right. I felt good about sending him out there.”

Girardi was referring to the eighth inning. The Orioles had their opportunity with the bases loaded. It was Sabathia’s fourth straight quality outing, the last two why New York moves on and Baltimore goes away now until April.

There are no days off in between series, and no pitching rotation has been set by Girardi for the Tigers. Just Andy Pettitte for game one and the game two start Sunday night in the Bronx will be announced by Girardi Friday afternoon. Confidence with Pettitte who has won more post season games for a pitcher, coming out of retirement to be where the Yankees are now

Sabathia will probably get a start in game four, with the travel and off day Monday. But the way Sabathia threw the ball in the two games against Baltimore, the feeling is he could go sooner.

“I was trying to back up a little bit and tried to be aggressive with fastballs and that didn’t work,” commented Sabathia about the only inning where tension was evident in the Bronx at the Stadium.

He said about the deciding game on the mound, “Right now this ranks at the top. Pitching a game like, this having a chance to win a championship every year, the organization puts together, that’s, all you can ask for with a team.”

“It’s what I came here for. It’s what I play the game for. Getting the ball for saving the season whether its game one or game 15. I feel I have to win every game. I go out, put pressure on myself to perform well. I expect it.”

The Orioles never went away. Girardi, still feeling the effects on the passing of his father did not field many questions about what is next. The Tigers have their ace also, Justin Verlander, who also won’t be available for game one.

“It seems like when you manage the New York Yankees every series is like managing the World Series,” he said. But he has Sabathia, a difference whether it is the first game, the middle one, or the last.

Sabathia said, there is a long way to go, and he looks for three or four more starts this post season. There could be one more, pending how far this Yankees team will advance with the World Series one step away.

They have CC Sabathia, and to them getting to and winning the World Series is what it is about.

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring 786@aol.com

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