Bronx, N.Y., April 26, 2915; Yankees 6, Mets 4 — Well, the Yankees won the Battle of New York, part one, in 2015, the first home series in which they’ve beaten their crosstown rivals since 2012. But any Yankee fan hoping the team could derail the Mets fan brigade by doing so better rethink it. Down one run, then two, with four innings left, the Flushing-rooting visitors cheered lustily for a team whose offense through the game’s second half consisted of an infield single, a walk, two hit-by-pitches, and reaching on a swinging strike out/wild pitch. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., April 24, 2015; Yankees 6, Mets 1 — Despite the 30-degree wind chill Friday night, New York had a rare occasion to smile at the schedule makers at major league baseball. There has been a lot of drama over the years in The Bronx and Flushing, and all surrounding communities, since Dave Mlicki of the Mets blanked the Yankees 6-0 in the first regular season interleague game between the teams in 1997. Despite a Mets sweep in 2013 and continued success last year, frustrated Mets fans — with their team off to a fantastic start — were itching for an early fight in 2015, and they got it. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., April 12, 2015; Yankees 14, Red Sox 4 — The very first road game I ever attended was on April 7, 1969, when as a college student in our nation’s capital, I witnessed my Yankees beat the Senators 8-4 in their home opener at RFK Stadium. Mel Stottlemyre bested Camilo Pascual that day, largely on the strength of back-to-back home runs by Bobby Murcer and Jerry Kenney, the third baseman who would clear just one more fence the rest of the year. In 1970, he doubled that output to four long balls, and hit .193 for the year. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., April 9, 2015; Toronto 6, Yankees 3 — It was easy to think of it, that thing that has reared its ugly head quite a few times since CC Sabathia went from being the Yankee horse — who largely carried them to Championship No. 27 in 2009 — to a pinstriped puzzle. From 2009 through 2012 he won 11, 14, 11, and nine more games, respectively, than he lost, then his 2013 mark slipped to 14-13, before his knee gave way last year at 3-4. Continue reading →

April 8, 2015, Bronx, N.Y.; Yankees 4, Blue Jays 3 — Fans concerned about the [lack of] Yankee offense following Monday’s opening loss didn’t receive a lot of comfort from Wednesday’s victory in the frigid tundra that passed for the Stadium, but they certainly got an ace outing from Michael Pineda. The line read two runs (one earned) on six hits through six, but the hulking righty really only threw one bad pitch all night. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., April 6, 2015; Blue Jays 6, Yankees 1 — The Yankees and their fans awoke to a gorgeous sunny day Monday. It wasn’t actually warm, but weather featuring temps in the low 60s is better than we’ve come to expect for Opening Day of the baseball season in the Bronx in early April. Masahiro Tanaka was poised to take the start, and a mostly new infield was in place to help initiate a new Yankee era. Continue reading →

August 24, 2014, Bronx, N.Y. — A Yankee season in disrepair took another baby step toward redemption Sunday afternoon, as the “Bombers” took out the visiting White Sox, 7-4 in 10 innings, for a three-game sweep, and a barely acceptable 4-2 record on a homestand vs. two very challenged ballclubs. The win hardly leaves them looking pretty, but they’re in better shape than they were four days ago. Continue reading →

August 7, 2014, Bronx, N.Y. — After going 2-0, in effect, against three Detroit Cy Young winners in succession, relying on veteran hurlers, the Yanks hosted the Bengals in an even more tight, tense contest — if that’s possible — on a gorgeous Thursday afternoon today. But this time the home team handed the ball to 25-year-old rookie Shane Greene, taking on veteran Rick Porcello, 13-5 on the season, in Greene’s sixth major league start. Continue reading →

July 20, 2012, Bronx, N.Y. — It’s hard not to feel good about the three-game sweep of the Reds by the home-standing Yanks coming out of the All Star break, particularly in light of the five straight losses the team suffered to conclude their last home stand. Those losses, one uglier than the next, handed the “Bombers” a home mark five games under .500, their lowest standing in that respect in decades. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., June 27, 2014 — Yankee fans were doubly concerned as the team welcomed the rival Red Sox to town for the first of three Friday night. The 2014 season has been a struggle in the Bronx. The team’s infield defense has been weak, three starters have been disabled, and key offensive performers are having bad years. It’s enough problems to forget about the opponent. From the fan’s standpoint, the team is fighting their own shortcomings, trying to succeed in areas where they have often been failing all year. Continue reading →