Saturday, April 12, 2014

Charleston Riverdogs Game Recap 4/12

GreenJackets Swarm RiverDogs
Augusta strikes early, never looks back en route to win

CHARLESTON, SC - Despite three base hits and a run batted in from Mike Ford, the Charleston RiverDogs lost an 8-2 decision to the Augusta GreenJackets on Saturday night in front of 6,136 fans at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park in South Atlantic League action.
The RiverDogs have a 3-6 record after their fourth consecutive loss while the GreenJackets are now 6-4. Augusta has won the first three games of this four-game set at Riley Park.
All eight of Augusta's runs were scored before the RiverDogs scratched the scoreboard. After scoring two in the first inning, the GreenJackets drove in Brandon Bednar from first base on a Devin Harris double in the third that increased the lead to 3-0.
The lead doubled in the fourth on a two-run double by Tyler Ross and a run-scoring groundout from Ryder Jones that built a 6-0 advantage. In the top of the sixth inning, John Polonius and Ross both scored and brought the lead to eight runs.
Charleston added their only scores in the sixth and seventh innings. Tyler Wade had a leadoff walk in the sixth and scored on Ford's double that cut the Augusta advantage to 8-1. A double from John Murphy, coupled with a GreenJackets throwing error, scored Michael O'Neill in the seventh to trim the gap to 8-2.
Ford finished the game 3-of-4 while Murphy had two hits in his third consecutive multi-hit outing. The best RiverDogs effort on the mound came from reliever Philip Walby, who retired all six batters that he faced while striking out three in a row. Walby has yet to allow a baserunner in four innings pitched this season.
Augusta's Carlos Diaz earned the victory and evened his record at 1-1. Charleston's Brady Lail was tagged with the loss and also has a 1-1 record this season.
BALLPARK FUN: A season-high 6,136 fans watched Saturday's action at The Joe, with the first 1,000 of those fans receiving a Bill Murray RiverDogs t-shirt while entering the ballpark. Children that stayed through the end of the game had their first chance to run the bases this season, a staple of Saturday home games at Riley Park.

COMING UP: The finale of this four-game series will be a battle between southpaws as RiverDogs LHP Caleb Smith (1-0, 0.00 ERA) faces GreenJackets LHP Matthew Lujan (1-0, 1.13 ERA). Sunday's game is scheduled to start at 5:05pm. Kids Opening Day on the first CCPRC and Crews Subaru Kids Club Sunday includes many fun features for young RiverDogs fans. Some of the festivities include a youth t-shirt giveaway for the first 1,000 kids (12 & under) through the presented by Vapor Apparel and Kids Eat Free courtesy of Pepsi. The RiverDogs will also sign autographs following the game. Tickets may be purchased at the Riley Park Box Office, (843) 577-DOGS (3647) or on-line atwww.riverdogs.com. If fans cannot make it to the ballpark, they are encouraged to tune in to all the action this year both home and away worldwide on www.riverdogs.com and locally on 1250 WTMA, the new radio home for RiverDogs baseball.

Being posted with permission from the Charleston Riverdogs organization. The original article can be seen HERE

Trenton Thunder Game Recap 4/12

Thunder Rally Falls Short in 3-2 Loss in Erie

ERIE, PA - The Erie SeaWolves pitching staff made quick work of the Trenton Thunder for eight innings, and hung on in the 9th for a 3-2 win Saturday afternoon.

In a ballgame that took 2:03 in front of 1,443 fans at Jerry Uht Park, Trenton's offense was held to two hits and one run over six innings by Erie starter Kyle Ryan. Ryan, who tossed 4.1 innings of no-hit ball in his season debut at Altoona, was perfect in five of his six innings Saturday afternoon against the Thunder.

Trenton trailed 1-0 into the 3rd inning, but Dan Fiorito scored on Ben Gamel's RBI single with two outs to tie the ballgame. In the 4th and 5th innings Erie got the leadoff runner aboard and plated runs in each inning to make it 3-1.

Neither team scored again until the 9th inning when Trenton made a late comeback effort. Mason Williams doubled to begin the inning, and Gamel followed that with a single to put runners on first and third base with one out. After 2.0+ innings of relief for Erie, Kenny Faulk was replaced by fellow lefty Pat McCoy to face Tyler Austin who grounded into a double-play. Williams scored on the play to make it 3-2 Erie, but Gary Sanchez was retired just a few pitches later by McCoy to end the ballgame.

Joel De La Cruz picked up the loss for Trenton after being transferred from Staten Island's roster earlier in the day. He allowed three runs (2 ER) on eight hits over 6.1 innings, and needed just 67 pitches to do so before he was relived out of the pen by Aaron Dott and Branden Pinder.
The Thunder and SeaWolves complete their four-game series Sunday at Jerry Uht Park. First pitch is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. with the Trenton Thunder pre-game show beginning at 1:20 p.m. on 91.3 FM WTSR or online at www.trentonthunder.com. Immediately following Sunday's game, the Thunder will hit the road to Akron, Ohio to play the Akron RubberDucks in a three-game series.

Being posted with permission from the Trenton Thunder organization. The original article can be seen HERE

Mark Teixeira A Week Away From Returning?

Is Mark Teixeira a mere week away from returning to the middle of the New York Yankees lineup? Well he certainly thinks so, whether Joe Girardi and the Yankees agree is another thing. Teix is eligible to come off the DL next Sunday when the Yankees play the Tampa Bay Rays and Mark expects to be in the lineup. Let's hope he is right because it really puts everything back to where it should be in Yankee land with him at first base and in the middle of the order, even if everyone has filled in marvelously to date in his absence.

5 home runs help Yankees win Game 3, 7-4

Hiroki Kuroda threw 6.1 innings of four-run ball and Adam Warren and Shawn Kelley combined to get the last 6 outs today as the Yankees continued their back-and-forth recent play with a win over the Red Sox, 7-4. Overall, Kuroda didn't look sharp at all in this one, giving up 6 hits and 3 walks, but in the end he did gets the outs he needed, making his outing as a whole very appreciable. 

Anyway, the Yanks offense had their first Yankee-like performance of the season this afternoon, collecting a combined five home runs from Brian McCann (who had 2), Carlos Beltran, Alfonso Soriano, and Kelly Johnson. That shot from Beltran and one of the two long balls hit by McCann came with a single man on base, giving the two a nice 3 and 2 RBI respectively. 

Besides those guys, CF Jacoby Ellsbury and 3B Yangervis Solarte also played pretty well in this W, going 2-for-3 with a walk and 2-for-4. After that walk, Ellsbury scored from first on the homer by Beltran, making him the only Bomber who didn't go deep to cross home plate in this contest.

$100 Gift Card Giveaway to NYY Steak Manhattan


Baseball season is here, and the Yankees back on the field for a run at their 28th World Championship. During the off-season, the Yankees loaded up on a lot of new talent that will make this summer at the Bronx an exciting and interesting one. In addition to the on the field additions, the Yankees family had a notable off-the-field addition with the January launch of NYY Steak in Midtown. Located right across the street from Rockefeller Center, NYY Steak is the Midtown version of NYY Steak based at Yankee Stadium. If you’ve already eaten at NYY Steak in the Stadium, you know how good it is. We’re now giving you an opportunity to try out the new location with the help by giving away two $100 gift certificates. You can enter below as well as read some more on NYY Steak!
The New York Yankees are the premier franchise in Major League Baseball and as an extension of that excellence, NYY Steak has become a premier dining experience. Located in Yankee Stadium, Florida and now Midtown Manhattan, NYY Steak brings a world class atmosphere to championship cuisine. Each location features Yankee touches, such as an signature wall containing autographs from past and present players, 27 wines representing 27 World Series championships and plates marked with numbers of retired Yankees.
A new gameday tradition, the NYY Steak location at Yankee Stadium at Gate 6 is a perfect compliment for a day at the ballpark. The award-winning kitchen features the finest dry-aged USDA Prime steaks, five-star seafood, a raw bar and daily specials. The restaurant is open only on game days and during other ticketed events at times in accordance with the Gate schedule, making it the top option for lunch for day games and dinner for night games during the season.
The newest addition to the lineup is the NYY Steak in Midtown Manhattan on 7 West 51st Street, one block away from Rockefeller Center. The 200 seat, three-floor restaurant combines the best of both worlds from the other locations. Open at 11:30am each day serving lunch and dinner, the Midtown location has quickly become one of the top New York City steakhouses since opening in November of 2013.
Whether it’s at the stadium, at the Yankees’ home away from home in Florida, or in the middle of Manhattan, NYY Steak combines a top-tier baseball franchise with a top-tier dining experience.


ICYMI: Sterling Home Run Calls For The New Yankees


In case you missed it we have a few new faces in the Bronx this season which means John  Sterling has a few new home run calls to bring to his listeners. We have yet to see a home run from Jacoby Ellsbury or Brian McCann but new Yankees Kelly Johnson, Dean Anna, and Carlos Beltran have hit one and here are the legendary calls from the man himself:

Dean Anna:

"Anna...on the Dean's list." 

Carlos Beltran:

"un correazo by Beltran" (loose translation is "a belting by Beltran")

Kelly Johnson:

"Kelly Killed It."

And now that we have that behind us we can get back to work now, thanks.

Game Thread: Yankees @ Red Sox 4/12


The New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox will play the third game of their four game set this weekend at Yankee Stadium this afternoon. The Yankees will send Hiroki Kuroda to the mound to face off with John Lackey for the Red Sox. The game can be seen on the YES Network and Fox Sports 1, better than Fox I guess, it can be seen on your computer with MLB TV, and heard on the radio with WFAN.

Kuroda got a victory in his last start in his last start against the Baltimore Orioles on Yankees Opening Day at Yankee Stadium. Lackey has come out of the gate strong but has a career 1-1 record with a 7.64 ERA at Yankee Stadium so let's hope that Lackey shows up and not the one that held the Texas Rangers to one run in seven innings last time out.

Keep the conversation going by following us on Twitter, follow @GreedyStripes, or by dropping us a line in the comments section of the site. We have a great core of guys talking in there and it can only get better with the addition of you, the reader, so check that out. You can also buy your Yankees Tickets here on the blog through the link on our navigation bar for this game and every Yankees game, home or away. If your looking for something to pass the time be sure to check out our mega prediction game where you wager points on whether the Yankees will win or lose all 162 games this season.

Enjoy the game Yankees family and the rest of your day and weekend.

Solarte, the new Kevin Mass?

From over .500 to a .343 makes him Kevin #2?
I don't buy it at all, Kevin and Solarte have very little in common. Whereas, Kevin was power or nothing...Solarte is a contact hitter.

The thing with Solarte, making him no different than most Rookies, is making the adjustments on what the pitchers are doing to him. Can we say; "Nothing but breaking pitches"?
Solarte has never faced breaking balls as good has he has lately...I am going to withhold judgement and give him time to show if he has the talent.
I believe he does have what it takes to stay on the 25 man roster and help the Yankees to the 2014 Gold Ring.

I believe in rookies until I see them unable to adjust, I mean no matter what a hitter does they all have a cold spot! But it matters what the hitter does when the pitcher misses the cold spot...does he tag it well or foul it off?

There are a few bloggers and (so called) experts saying Solarte is the Next Kevin Mass. As they did with Brett and now with Solarte anyone coming up through our system had better be much better than "The Babe" or get written off as another over hyped player!
Let's give the guy a chance to show what he has, before passing judgement.

Trenton Thunder Game Recap 4/11

Late Wild Pitch Thwarts Thunder Comeback, 5-4

ERIE, PA - A Cole Kimball wild pitch in the bottom of the 8th inning undid Trenton's comeback, in a 5-4 loss to the Erie SeaWolves Friday night at Jerry Uht Park.

Trenton trailed 4-1 in the 5th inning after a Jason Krizan three-run homer off Thunder starting pitcher Zach Nuding broke a 1-1 tie. However, the Thunder bats were resilient and responded immediately with two runs in the top of the 6th to trim that deficit to 4-3. In the frame, Dan Fiorito slashed a single through the left side of the infield with the bases loaded to score Rob Refsnyder and Zach Wilson. It was Fiorito's second and third RBI in the last two games.

Kimball picked up the loss with the one earned run allowed in 1.0 IP, while Erie reliever Corey Knebel earned the victory despite blowing the save with a run in the top of the 8th inning.

The 8th inning began for Trenton with a double by Refsnyder, and two batters later Taylor Dugas smoked a double to right-centerfield to score Refsnyder easily for a 4-4 tie. Dugas ended on third base on the play with one out due to an error by SeaWolves centerfielder Jamie Johnson. Neither Yeral Sanchez nor Fiorito came up with a way to plate Dugas to get Trenton what would have been its first lead of the game.

Despite the loss which dropped them to 4-4 on the season, Trenton outhit Erie 11-6 and three Thunder batters registered two-hit games; Tyler Austin, Gary Sanchez, Refsnyder and Dugas.

Nuding tossed 5.0 innings, and struck out six batters in a no-decision. The big blow in his four-run performance was the three-run homer in the 5th inning, which marred what was otherwise a second strong performance to begin the season.

The Thunder and SeaWolves continue their four-game series tomorrow at Jerry Uht Park. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. with the Trenton Thunder pre-game show beginning at 6:20 p.m. on 91.3 FM WTSR or online at www.trentonthunder.com

Being posted with permission from the Trenton Thunder organization. The original article can be seen HERE

Charleston Riverdogs Game Recap 4/11


Murphy Shines as GreenJackets Nip RiverDogs
Augusta lights up the scoreboard before postgame fireworks brighten the Lowcountry sky

CHARLESTON, SC - John Murphy collected two base hits and had a perfect defensive performance in his first career start at first base, but the Augusta GreenJackets defeated the Charleston RiverDogs 8-1 on Friday evening in front of 4,322 fans at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park in South Atlantic League action.
The RiverDogs are 3-5 this season and trail this four-game series with two losses to the GreenJackets, whose record is now 5-4.
In the fourth inning, Augusta opened the scoring. Tyler Ross hit a bases-loaded, two-out single that scored Brandon Bednar and Devin Harris for a 2-0 GreenJackets lead. Augusta increased its advantage to 3-0 after scoring in the top of the fifth.
Starting pitcher Keury Mella carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning before the RiverDogs broke through and also got on the scoreboard. Michael O'Neill walked and reached third base after a stolen base and a wild pitch. Murphy lined a single off Mella's leg to score O'Neill and cut the deficit to 3-1.
The RiverDogs threatened to take the lead during the bottom of the seventh. After reliever Steven Messner picked up two quick outs, Eduardo De Oleo and Murphy recorded back-to-back singles. A Tyler Wade walk loaded the bases and resulted in an Augusta pitching change. Luis Castillo faced Brandon Thomas, who flew out to center field for the final out of the frame.
After escaping a jam on defense, Augusta solidified its lead in the eighth inning. Ryder Jones doubled and brought in Devin Harris for a 4-1 GreenJackets advantage. Two more runs scored on a pair of sacrifice flies that built a five-run lead. In the ninth, Jones struck again with a two-run single that put the contest out of reach.
Mella's no-hit bid put him in the win column to improve his record to 2-0. Mella allowed one hit and one run while striking out seven in a five-inning start. Giovanny Gallegos took the loss for Charleston and is 0-2 this season. This game was also the first contest of the season that the RiverDogs were the second team to score.
BALLPARK FUN: Chief Warrant Officer Travis Meyer returned from a nine-month deployment in the Eastern part of the Mediterranean and surprised his family at The Joe on Friday evening. It was Meyer's third such naval deployment in the last four years. Following the contest, fans watched the sky light up over the Ashley River during the first fireworks display of the season.
COMING UP: Game three of this four-game series will be a matchup between RiverDogs RHP Brady Lail (1-0, 1.50 ERA) and GreenJackets LHP Carlos Diaz (0-1, 4.50 ERA). First pitch on Saturday is scheduled for 6:05pm. The first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive a Bill Murray RiverDogs T-Shirt presented by BenefitFocus and Fox 24. It's also Social Media Saturday, when fans are encouraged to make music and promotional game requests to the RiverDogs on Facebook and Twitter. Fans whose requests are chosen will see their names on the video board. Tickets may be purchased at the Riley Park Box Office, (843) 577-DOGS (3647) or on-line at www.riverdogs.com. If fans cannot make it to the ballpark, they are encouraged to tune in to all the action this year both home and away worldwide on www.riverdogs.com and locally on 1250 WTMA, the new radio home for RiverDogs baseball.

Being posted with permission from the Charleston Riverdogs organization. The original article can be seen HERE

Yet Another Jacoby Ellsbury New York Yankees Meme


We have done a Jacoby Ellsbury meme for every game this series why screw with something that works, right? Here is another one, I always get a kick out of these meme's for some odd reason.

Preview: New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox 4/12


The New York Yankees have hosted two games at Yankee Stadium this week and weekend with the Boston Red Sox and today is the third game of that four game series. The Yankees will send Hiroki Kuroda to the mound this afternoon to face off with John  Lackey for the Red Sox. The game will be televised at 1:05 pm ET on the YES Network, Fox Sports 1, on the computer with MLB TV, and on the radio with WFAN.

Go Yankees!!!

This Day In New York Yankees History 4/12


On this day in 1931 former Chicago Cubs Joe McCarthy made his managerial debut for the New York Yankees. The future Hall of Fame manager, who has the most wins of any manager in Yankees history with 1,460, saw eight pennants and seven World Series titles during his 16 years in the Bronx.


On this day in 1935 the Yankees named Lou Gehrig the fifth captain in their history. The then 33 year old first baseman joined Hal Chase(1912), Roger Peckinpaugh (1914-1921), Babe Ruth( six days in 1922), and Everett Scott(1922-1925).


On this day in 1953 Mickey Mantle was informed via the public address announcer that Mickey Mantle had just became a father. Mickey Mantle Jr. was the first of four sons by Mickey and Merlyn. Here is the Brooklyn Dodgers announcement at Ebbets Field: "Mickey doesn't know it yet but he has just become the father of an eight-pounds, twelve ounce baby boy."


On this day in 2008 the Yankees Low A affiliate, the Charleston Riverdogs, commemorate the first visit of Benedict XVI to the United States with a Pope on a Rope Night promotion. The first 1,000 fans received a soap figurine which looked like the Holy Father.