Yanks Go Yard » Game Recap

Baby Bombers Breakdown: SI Yanks Take Game 1

Ricky Keeler — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:00:47 +0000

The Staten Island Yankees got their New York-Penn League season started on the right foot Monday night as they defeated the Brooklyn Cyclones 2-1 at Richmond County Bank Ballpark in St. George. This is just the second time in franchise history that the team won a season opener and the sixth time they have won the home opener. The winning pitcher was Giovanny Gallegos, who threw five shutout innings, giving up only three hits and striking out five. After a disappointing 2012 season, the Baby Bombers’ clubhouse has to feel good about being 1-0, especially playing in front of a crowd of 6,711. (stadium seats a little over 7,000).

Photo Credit: http://statenislandyankees.mlblogs.com

The one play that decided this game came in the bottom of the second inning when third baseman Francisco Rosario hit a groundball to third that appeared to end the inning and leave the bases loaded. However, Cyclones’ third baseman Anthony Chavez barehanded the ball and threw it away from the first baseman allowing Brandon Thomas and Isaias Tejada to score the only two runs for the Staten Island Yankees.

As for the pitching staff, Gallegos was outstanding with his fastball. The velocity on the heater was between 91 and 93 miles per hour for the bulk of the night and was pounding the strike zone, forcing Cyclones’ hitters to swing early in the count. Gallegos retired the first ten Cyclones of the game, until L.J Mazzilli, son of former Yankee coach Lee Mazzilli, singled to center field with 1 out in the top of the 4th inning.

The offense featured mainly infield singles, with five of the nine Yankees’ hits not even leaving the infield. However, left fielder Michael O’Neill was the star of the game for the offense. The nephew of former Yankee left fielder, Paul O’Neill, went 2-4 with a single, double, and two stolen bases. He even made a diving catch in left field, a position he did not play in college, to start the 2nd inning. I asked him about that diving catch after the game.

“I haven’t played left field since summer ball when I was 16 years old,” O’Neil replied. “I’m glad I made the play and helped the pitcher out.”

The one negative about this game was right fielder Daniel Lopez being hit in the helmet by a Robert Gsellman fastball in the bottom of the 2nd inning. Lopez left the game under his own power, but manager Justin Pope said that he will be examined for a possible concussion on Tuesday.

Manager Justin Pope told us on Saturday that he wanted his team to play aggressive baseball. For one night, the team bought into that message, with three stolen bases in four attempts.

“It just opens up holes for us,” said Pope when talking about the impact that stolen bases could have on the lineup going forward.

The game ended with Yankees’ 10th round pick Tyler Webb throwing a hitless 9th inning, capping the game with a 92 mph third strike swinging to Anthony Chavez. Even though local Staten Islander Dillon McNamara was warming up in the bullpen during the top of the 8th inning, Pope elected not to use him in this game and instead use the former South Carolina closer at the “tail end of the game.” He wanted to also give veterans second-year players Charles Basford and James Pazos the first crack out of the bullpen. This was much of the chagrin to the fans who were chanting “We Want D-Mac” during the 8th inning.

Brooklyn scored its only run on a solo home run in the top of the 7th inning from right fielder James Roche. Their best chance to tie the game came in the 8th when they got the first two runners on via an infield single and an error. Then, Tejeda threw the runner out at 3rd on a double steal attempt, which was then followed by a Pazos K of Matt Oberste with two on and two out to keep the game and ultimately the final at 2-1.

Yanks Go Yard Recap: New York Yankees Salvage One Game In Anaheim

Jason Evans — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 03:50:09 +0000

Nothing is coming easy for the New York Yankees right now. Even when they win, it’s by the skin of their teeth. The Yankees needed CC Sabathia to step up and pitch well and he did, right until the ninth inning. The Yankees had just enough runs in the bank to escape with a 6-5 victory over the Los Angeles Angels. (more…)

Yanks Go Yard Recap: Tex Injured As New York Yankees Losing Streak Extends To Five

Jason Evans — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 02:50:17 +0000

The thing we talked about with the Yankees was waiting until the reinforcements return. Well, Curtis Granderson and Kevin Youkilis are back on the DL and Mark Teixeira may be joining them back on the DL. Teixeira left the game in the fourth after re-injuring his right wrist and will fly to New York to have it examined tomorrow. Oh yeah, the Yankees lost to the Angels again 6-2. (more…)

Yanks Go Yard Recap: New York Yankees Losing Streak Goes To Four In Anaheim

Jason Evans — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 13:46:00 +0000

Well, at least one streak ended last night. The Yankees scoreless streak. That streak ended at 20, however the Yankees losing streak reached four as they fell to the Angels 5-2. The team is now 8-17 in Anaheim since 2008. (more…)

Yanks Go Yard Recap: New York Yankees Swept In Oakland After 18 Inning Marathon

Jason Evans — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 02:48:23 +0000

The New York Yankees haven’t been hitting. When three of your hitters go 0-23 and you get shutout for 17 innings in a row, you’re struggling. The Yankees fell 3-2 in 18 innings and were swept by the Oakland Athletics. Yes they struggle in Oakland, however, this may be a little different this time. (more…)

Yanks Go Yard Recap: New York Yankees Offense Continues Their Struggles As They Lose In Oakland

Jason Evans — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 11:56:38 +0000

The New York Yankees haven’t homered in their past five games. The Oakland Athletics pitching over the first two games has done a great job of shutting down the Yankee bats. That continued last night, as the Yankees only mustered four hits and lost 4-2.

Yanks Go Yard Recap: Sabathia Struggles As New York Yankees Fall In Oakland

Jason Evans — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 11:42:40 +0000

CC Sabathia came into last night’s game with a career ERA over five in Oakland. Last night’s performance didn’t help that number. Sabathia gave up six runs in six innings as the Yankees lost the first game of the series in Oakland 6-4. (more…)

Yanks Go Yard Recap: Stewart’s Single Gives New York Yankees The Win In The Ninth

Jason Evans — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 00:25:29 +0000

When you’re team isn’t having a good day offensively, sometimes it takes a guy who you don’t expect to make a contribution with the stick, to get the job done. Chris Stewart has overall done a good job for the New York Yankees since Francisco Cervelli went down. Stewart’s clutch single in the top of the ninth won the game for New York Yankees this afternoon, as the beat the Seattle Mariners 2-1. (more…)

Pettitte Tops Mariners For 250th Win As Yankees Draft His Son

Dan Dechenaux — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 18:08:13 +0000

Andy Pettitte saved a memorable performance for his 250th career victory, as the New York Yankees topped the Seattle Mariners 3-1 at Safeco Field Saturday. Making the day even more special, Pettitte learned that his son Josh was drafted by the Yankees on the same day as his milestone. (more…)

Misfortune For Kuroda As Yanks Fall To Mariners

Dan Dechenaux — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 15:30:11 +0000

Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

Hiroki Kuroda and the New York Yankees fell to the Seattle Mariners 4-1 on Friday night after a pair of bad breaks. (more…)