Little Leaguers Win Boro President’s Cup

BRONX, NEW YORK, September 26- Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and the New York Yankees co-hosted the second annual “Borough President’s Cup” Little League Championship. The game featured a match-up between the Little League Raiders and the Bronx Bombers Little League, who competed for the title in a game at Yankee Stadium. The Little League Raiders won the game, for the second time, defeating the Bronx Bombers Little League 6-1. 

To compete for the “Borough President’s Cup,” players for each Little League had to meet a set of requirements unrelated to their performance on the field. Those included a B-average in school, 90 percent or greater school attendance and a demonstrated commitment to community service.

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No Foul for Yanks

Bombers Lose to A’s but Maintain 1st Place Lead

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, September 24- On Sunday, despite being edged by the A’s, 5-4, the Yanks ended their penultimate home stand of the 2012 season in first place in the American League East. After the three game series ended, the Yankees departed for a seven-game road trip, three games in Minnesota and four in Toronto. On October 1, the Yanks will return to the Bronx for the final three games of the regular season against the Red Sox.

The loss to Oakland ended New York’s seven-game winning streak. The damage was nullified as the Orioles were defeated by the Red Sox on Sunday. Thus, the Yanks still held a one-game advantage over the Baltimore Orioles as the week ended.

The Yanks were held to five scattered singles during eight innings of Sunday’s contest. It was only in the fourth frame that the Yankees offense erupted. After a single by Robinson Cano, Nick Swisher poled a two-run homer into the right field seats. Two more runs scored after singles by Curtis Granderson and Russell Martin and a double by Raúl Ibañez.

Derek Jeter’s single in the third extended the Yankee captain’s current consecutive game hit streak to 17. His infield single in the sixth raised his multi-hit games this season to a league leading 62. Jeter’s total of 206 hits in 2012 is first in the majors. This is the 8^th season in which Jeter has bettered 200 hits.

All five of Oakland’s runs were scored off Yankees starter Hiroki Kuroda, who suffered his 11^th loss of the season. Oakland’s lead-off hitter, Stephen Drew, beat out an infield single in the first and scored the first run of the game. Yankee manager Joe Giradi placed the blame on, “His [Kuroda’s] command a little bit. He left some pitches in the middle of the plate.”

A questionable infield single by Josh Donaldson began the second. He crossed the plate on a two-run homer by Cliff Pennington. Talented rookie Yeonis Cespedes singled home the fourth run for the A’s in the fifth.

Donaldson reached first on an error by shortstop Eduardo Nuñez in the seventh. Later in the inning, he scored what turned out to be the winning run. As Nuñez made a second error in the seventh, Girardi was questioned about how long he would replace Jeter at short. He expressed concern about Jeter being unable to control his efforts on defense as he plays with such great effort.

Of Nuñez, he remarked, “For the most part, he’s done a good job. I like what the kid does. He gives us some excitement out there.”

After winning seven of the nine home games, Girardi expressed great respect for his players, “We had a great home stand. I like the way we’re playing. I like the fight in our guys. We’re a very professional group, a very mature group.”

In the first road game on Monday, Andy Pettitte (4-3) will start for the Yanks against Liam Hendriks (1-7) of the Twins.

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Yanks Win Marathon

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Beat A’s in 14 Innings

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, September 23- After  nearly six hours of play, an error allowed Ichiro Suzuki to cross home plate with the winning run in the 14^th inning. The victory was the seventh straight for the wearers of the pinstripes and their tenth in the last 12. The win kept the yanks in first place over the Orioles, who seem to win every day.

The chance of Saturday afternoon’s game emulating the pitchers’ duel of Friday night ended in the first inning. Back-to-back-to back doubles by the first three batters of the game, Stephen Drew, Seth Smith and Yeonis Cspedes, put two runs on the board before the first out was recorded.

The Yanks countered with three runs in the bottom of the first. He torrid hitting by Ichiro Suzuki continued as he homered on a 0-1 pitch to give the Yanks their first run. Three walks, a balk, an error and a single by Robinson Cano added two additional scores for New York. Both teams completed their half inning with bases filled.

Oakland starter Travis Blackley left the game after two innings and Yankees starter Ivan Nova was removed after 2.1. Pitching was not the focus throughout the contest as the game included 19 runs, 31 hits, seven home runs, 15 walks, two hit batters and three errors.

A run by Oakland tied the score at 5 in the top of the seventh, but the greatest excitement was yet to come.

Drew led off the 13^th with a single, his fourth hit of the game. Jonny Gomes followed with a homer to left that scored two. The next batter, rookie Cespedes connected with his 20^th home run. Two batters later, Chris Carter belted the third home run of the inning into the left field seats.

According to Ichiro, the fans streamed from the stadium after that four-run half inning, “When they scored four runs, a lot of fans went home. I bet they’re shocked to get home and see the score.”

Yankee skipper Joe Girardi explained the faith of the Yankees players was very much higher than the fans who left the park, “When guys came in, there were a lot of guys yelling ‘Let’s go, let’s go, one at bat at a time.’ Everybody was kind of caught up in that.”

Suzuki led off the 13th with his third hit of the game, an infield single. The big blow of the four-run inning, was Raúl Ibañez’s second home run of the game. Ibañez entered the game in the fifth as a pinch hitter and broke a 0 for 18 streak with a homer. Before blasting the four bagger, the veteran outfielder had only hit safely twice in 45 at bats.

Cory Wade, who was awarded the win, retired all three batters he faced in the 14^th.

With the bases loaded and two out in the bottom of the inning, Eduardo Nuñez grounded to first. The ball was booted by first sacker Brandon Moss, which allowed Ichiro to cross the plate with the winning run.

The final game of the three game set will have Hiroki Kuroda (14-10) on the mound for the Yanks. A.J. Griffin (6-2) will start for Oakland.

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Yanks Walk Off with Win

CC Shines as MartinWalk Off Homer Gives Yanks Win

(Photos by Gary Quintal)

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, September 22-A walk-off homer by Russell Martin, the lead-off batter in the bottom of the ninth on Friday night, gave the Yanks their sixth straight victory and their ninth win in the last 11 games. The win kept the Yanks in first place in the American League East, one game ahead of the Baltimore Orioles. The victory was an encouraging start for the Yanks in their weekend set against the Oakland A’s.

The first eight frames were a crisply played and exciting pitching duel between CC Sabathia and Jarrod Parker. Sabathia did not allow a hit during the first five innings. The Yankee starter retired 14 straight batters after Jonny Gomes, the second batter of the game, drew a walk.

Oakland’s first hit was a single to center by Stephen Drew that led off the sixth. Drew’s single with one out in the eighth was the second hit by Oakland.

Sabathia left the game after hurling eight shutout innings. He yielded three hits, two walks and hit a batter during his outstanding stint on the mound. The lefty fanned 11 batters, the fifth time in 2012 when he recorded double figures in strikeout Yankee manager Joe Girardi was pleased by the work of his starter, “I thought his slider and his change-up helped him. I thought he got stronger as the game went on. This season that’s what we’re used to seeing from him. Tonight might have been the best game he pitched this season.”

Walker pitched eight innings and the final score was 2-1 in both of his starts against the Yanks in 2012. On July 5, he gave up five hits and one run while earning the win.

He was at least as impressive on Friday night when he surrendered six hits and a single tally. He fanned seven but did not walk a batter, yet, like Sabathia, was not involved in the decision.

The only run off Walker was scored in the fourth. Nick Swisher led off with a single, moved up on a single by Alex Rodriguez and crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly to left by Curtis Granderson.

The A’s skipper, Bob Melvin, made a wise move in the ninth as pinch hitter Brandon Mossi homered off closer Rafael Soriano to tie the contest.

Russell Martin wasted no time in the tenth as he lifted the second pitch he saw into the left field seats to end the contest.

Two veteran Yankees, who will be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame five years after their playing careers end, continued to display their abilities at the plate. Derek Jeter singled to lead-off the sixth, raising his consecutive game hitting streak to 15. Ichiro Suzuki singled in each of his first two trips to the plate. The 38 year old has hit successfully in 11 of his 15 at bats during the last four games. He also stole his 27^th base this season.

On Saturday afternoon, Ivan Nova (12-7) will start for the Yanks against Travis Blackley (5-3) for Oakland in the second of the three game series.

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Yanks Sweep Jays

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, September 21- Buoyed by an impressive offensive output, the Yankees won their fifth straight game on Thursday night at Yankee Stadium. The 10-7 Yankees win while Baltimore was idle moved the Yankees one game in front of the Baltimore Orioles in the American League East.

Ichiro Suzuki followed his superlative performance during Wednesday’s day/night doubleheader by crashing a homer to right in his first trip to the plate in the third inning on Thursday. Suzuki also played an important role in the seven run outburst by the Yankees in the next inning. Two walks and an error filled the bases to start the inning. Suzuki followed with a two run double, his seventh straight hit.

Jayson Nix then walked to again fill the sacks. Derek Jeter then upped his consecutive game hitting streak to 14 with a run scoring single. Nick Swisher cleared the bases with the record tying 10^th grand slam of the season for the Bronx Bombers. That mark had only been reached by the Yanks in three previous seasons, 1987, 2010 and 2011.

The seven run inning that broke up the game had only been done three times earlier by the team in 2012.

Doubles by Curtis Granderson and Nix and a single by Jeter netted two additional runs for New York in the fifth.

Yankee starter Phil Hughes lasted the requisite five innings to be credited with the win, his16th this year.

Doubles by Adam Lind and Kelly Johnson scored the first Toronto run in the second.

Lack of control by Hughes in the third led to two runs. During that frame, he walked two and hit two batsmen.

A two-run homer by Moises Sierra on the first pitch he saw gave the Blue Jays two runs in the fifth.

Hughes did tie a major league record by fanning four batters in the fourth. Adeiny Hechavarria reached first on a passed ball after striking out, thus, creating the need for a fourth batsman. Hughes was only the second Yankee hurler to accomplish this feat. It was previously done by AJ Burnett on June 23, 2011. David Robertson obtained his second save by striking out all three batters he faced in the ninth.

The two hitting heroes of the game, Swisher and Suzuki commented on the recent performance of the team.  The outspoken and energetic Swisher said, “I feel that we’re getting that inner confidence back that we lost there for a little bit. Regardless of whatever the situation is, whatever team we’re playing, we feel like we’re going to go out there and get the job done.”

The quiet veteran from Japan, who is batting .321 since joining the team and is batting .362 against lefties, expressed his opinion through a translator, “Having this momentum come at this point in the season, O think that’s the Yankees. And I think that’s what makes this team special.”

The Oakland Athletics come to the stadium for a three game weekend series that will have bearing on the race for the playoffs in the American League.

On Friday night, CC Sabathia (13-6) will start for the yanks against Jarrod Parker (11-8) of the A’s.

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Daily Double for Bombers

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Yanks Remain in First Place

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, September 20- A combination of outstanding pitching and timely hitting gave the Yankees a second victory on Wednesday. The 2-1 victory in the second of a day/night doubleheader on Wednesday allowed the Yanks to remain in first place in the American League East with 14 games remaining for the Bronx Bombers.

David Phelps hurled his lengthiest and most impressive start of 2012. He threw 110 pitches, 12 more his previous high of the season in 6.2 innings, a distance he had only reached once this year.

Two walks and an RBI single by Aderiny Hechevarria scored the only Toronto run in the game. Rajai Davis led off the third with a single, but was thrown out trying to steal. Phelps retired the next 12 batters before J.P. Arencibia reached first on a throwing error by Derek Jeter with one out in the sixth.

Although Pettitte pitched his expected maximum of five innings in game one, it took six relievers to complete the game. Thus, it was necessary to Phelps to carry the load in the second game. He stated, “I know I had to go out there and pitch deep into the game.”

Ichiro Suzuki showed his superior abilities are still intact. In the doubleheader he hit safely seven times, stole four bases and made a critical great catch in the first game with the bases loaded to preserve the Yankees 4-2 victory.

Suzuki went four for four in the nightcap. In the second, with Jayson Nix and Casey McGehee on base via walks, Ichiro singled to center, but Nix was thrown out trying to score.

In the eighth, with the game knotted at one, Ichiro got his fourth hit of the contest. The hit drove in Curtis Granderson with what proved to be the winning run.

After the game, the calm outfielder explained his feelings, “I came in the middle of the season; I wanted to contribute. Today was a great day. I was glad I was able to help.”

Of his fellow outfielder, Nick Swisher exclaimed, “I don’t think anybody could have got him out today.”

Another hero of the doubleheader was closer Rafael Soriano. The closer saved both games. In the opener, the save was a rare four out effort. Soriano has saved 42 games in 45 opportunities. Even more impressive is the fact that his first save did not come until May3, when Mariano Rivera was placed on the DL.

The Yankees will attempt to sweep the series on Thursday night with Phil Hughes (15-12) on the mound. Hughes will be opposed by Aaron Laffey (3-5).

Not another shelter!

COMMUNITY BOARD

NEWS N’ VIEWS

 by

Father Richard F. Gorman

Chairman

Community Board #12 (The Bronx)

“L’SHANA TOVA!” or, as one would say in English, “HAPPY NEW YEAR!” This Sunday evening past at sunset, our Jewish friends across our beautiful Borough of The Bronx and, indeed, throughout the world, began the celebration of their New Year 5773.   

The traditional New Year greeting of “L’SHANNA TOVA,” literally “for a good year,” expresses the ardent aspiration of the Jewish people for a year of holiness, wholesomeness, good health, and good will among each other and with all people. On this ROSH HASHANAH, I join with my Jewish friends in praying for such a year, not only for them, but for all of God’s Children. May 5773 bring only peace and prosperity to us all!

Regrettably, though, 5773 is not getting off on the right foot for the citizens of Community Board #12 (The Bronx) and, in particular, for the residents of Wakefield. The hard-pressed people of Wakefield, already exploited by the burden of taking on three facilities housing different populations within the greater homeless populace of the City of New York, are about to be weighed down with possibly a fourth one. 

As all in Bronx Community District #12 already know all too well, three facilities are already in the works in Wakefield. PROJECT RENEWAL, a mega-not-for-profit (N-F-P) catering to homeless individuals with chemical dependencies and/or mental illness, has undertaken to convert a former commercial building into a facility housing 100 to 125 homeless persons at 4380 Bronx Boulevard at the intersection of East 238TH Street (Nereid Avenue). Directly across the street on the very same intersection, in the now vacated SERGEANT JOSEPH E. MULLER UNITED STATES ARMY RESERVE CENTER (M.U.S.A.R.C.), formerly a base for the United States Army National Guard situated at 555 East 238TH STREET (Nereid Avenue), THE DOE FUND, another colossal charitable organization addressing the homeless issue, is intending to operate a facility for over 200 itinerant individuals. Up the hill and around the corner to the right at 4339 White Plains Road, PRAXIS HOUSING INITIATIVES  --  still another sizable charity dedicated to aiding those who are chronically homeless as a consequence of H.I.V./A.I.D.S., mental health concerns, chemical dependency, and other special needs  -- has embarked on the construction of a facility with some 60+ units in which homeless individuals, with one or more of the aforesaid complicating factors, will be leased apartments thereby technically rendering them no longer homeless.

“ENOUGH ALREADY!” one would say. Certainly, the good, decent, hard working, taxpaying people of Wakefield have done more than their fair share for their disadvantaged brothers and sisters without a roof over the head. BUT . . . . . . “NO!” says ACACIA NETWORK, still another money-spinning not-for-profit (N.F.P.) who used to go by the name “PROMESA.” Conniving with a local developer, who has a voracious appetite for gulping up sites in our neck of the woods and putting up housing that he is unable to market, ACACIA NETWORK is looking to lease a newly erected edifice situated at 4453 White Plains Road between East 240TH Street and East 241ST Street that has some 56 units --  studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments  --  in which 100 or more homeless folks could easily be sheltered. Of course, who should be noticing that the greatest transformation occurring in Wakefield has less to do with the lives of the homeless than that that of the homeowners and residents of this bucolic neighborhood, who are witnessing the conversion of their neighborhood into a homeless colony! After all, protest our say our gainfully employed friends in the N-F-P community, something needs to be done in order to get a

handle on the homeless epidemic in New York City and to turn its tide.

I wholeheartedly and enthusiastically agree. Where I vehemently

disagree with many of these folks  --  most of whom I do believe are sincere in their desire to do good for the less fortunate  --  is the fashion under which this true work of God is accomplished and how the sacrifice for it is shared.

Wakefield Homeless Facility #4 brought to us by ACACIA NETWORK is a story only beginning to unfold that requires additional space and print to tell. Tune in next week for more of the truth of this sad saga.

Until next time, that is it for this time!

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