SB Nation New York - Blue Jays Shut Out Yankees Behind Brandon Morrowhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48977/ny-fave.png2011-09-18T19:39:03-04:00http://newyork.sbnation.com/rss/stream/21941722011-09-18T19:39:03-04:002011-09-18T19:39:03-04:00Yankees-Blue Jays Score: Toronto Shuts Out New York, 3-0
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<p>Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - <span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Adam Lind</span></span> homered twice and <span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Brandon Morrow</span></span> tossed eight shutout innings, as the <span class="sbn-auto-link">Toronto Blue Jays</span> delayed Mariano Rivera's pursuit of history and earned a 3-0 victory over the <span class="sbn-auto-link">New York Yankees</span> in the rubber match of a three-game series at Rogers Centre.</p>
<p>Rivera notched his 601st save on Saturday to tie Trevor Hoffman's all-time mark and was not needed in Sunday's contest, as the Yankees mustered little offense with <span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Derek Jeter</span></span>, <span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Curtis Granderson</span></span> and <span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Mark Teixeira</span></span> all on the bench for a day of rest.</p>
<p>Morrow (10-11) entered the contest 0-4 in his previous five starts, but limited New York to four hits with a walk and eight strikeouts to win for the first time since August 17 at Seattle.</p>
<p>"I spotted my fastball pretty good and I had a good curveball today," Morrow said.</p>
<p><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Frank Francisco</span></span> worked around a one-out double in the ninth to notch his 16th save.</p>
<p>The Yankees still lead the AL East by 4 1/2 games over the <span class="sbn-auto-link"><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.overthemonster.com/">Red Sox</a></span>, who dropped an 8-5 decision to the <span class="sbn-auto-link"><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.draysbay.com/">Tampa Bay Rays</a></span>. New York just wrapped up a 10-game road trip at 4-6 and will start an eight-game homestand with a makeup game against Minnesota on Monday. Tampa Bay then visits for four before Boston invades the Bronx next weekend.</p>
<p><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Freddy Garcia</span></span> (11-8) went the first 4 2/3 innings for New York and was charged with three runs on five hits and three walks. The veteran righty has been roughed up for 15 runs in 12 1/3 innings over his last three outings. Still, he had been 4-0 over his last seven starts and suffered his first loss since a 7-1 setback to Toronto on July 15.</p>
<p>"He just missed his spots," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said of his starter.</p>
<p><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Eduardo Nunez</span></span> had three of the five Yankee hits. He also had a baserunning gaffe after a sixth-inning single, trying to race to second after right fielder <span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Jose Bautista</span></span> threw behind him. <span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Edwin Encarnacion</span></span> easily took the throw at first and fired to second for the out.</p>
<p>The Yankees had two on with one out in the top of the first and tried to pull off a double steal, but trailing runner <span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Robinson Cano</span></span> was thrown out at second and <span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Alex Rodriguez</span></span> flied to right to end the threat.</p>
<p>Toronto took a 1-0 lead in the second when Lind led off the inning with his 25th home run of the season. Lind then clubbed his second of the game with one out in the fourth to make it 2-0.</p>
<p>The Jays tacked on another in the fifth and chased Garcia in the process. <span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>J.P. Arencibia</span></span> walked with one out and raced all the way to third when Garcia threw away Mike McCoy's bunt single. <span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Eric Thames</span></span> followed with a sacrifice fly and Toronto went on to load the bases when Bautista singled and Lind walked. <span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Luis Ayala</span></span> took over on the mound and got Encarnacion on a fly ball to center.</p>
<p>Lind had a chance to blow the game open in the seventh with the bases loaded and one out against <span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Raul Valdes</span></span>, but was caught looking at a third strike. Encarnacion then grounded to third to keep it a three-run game.</p>
<p>The Yankees, though, got only a two-out single from <span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Chris Dickerson</span></span> in the eighth and a one-out double from Nunez in the ninth. </p>
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<th class="td-left"> <span>Final - 9.18.2011 </span> </th> <th> 1 </th> <th> 2 </th> <th> 3 </th> <th> 4 </th> <th> 5 </th> <th> 6 </th> <th> 7 </th> <th> 8 </th> <th> 9 </th> <th>R</th> <th>H</th> <th>E</th>
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<td class="td-name"><span class="loss"> <a href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/">New York Yankees</a> </span></td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td class="highlight">0</td>
<td class="highlight">5</td>
<td class="highlight">1</td>
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<td class="td-name"><span class="win"> <a href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/">Toronto Blue Jays</a> </span></td>
<td>0</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>X</td>
<td class="highlight">3</td>
<td class="highlight">7</td>
<td class="highlight">0</td>
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<td colspan="13">WP: Brandon Morrow (10 - 11) <br> SV: Frank Francisco (16) <br> LP: Freddy Garcia (11 - 8)</td>
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<p class="foot clearfix"><span class="link-more"><span>Complete Coverage ></span></span></p>
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https://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-yankees/2011/9/18/2434124/yankees-blue-jays-score-toronto-shuts-out-new-york-3-0Ed Valentine2011-09-17T20:55:52-04:002011-09-17T20:55:52-04:00Yankees-Blue Jays Score: Mariano Rivera Ties Saves Record In 7-6 Victory
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<p>Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Curtis Granderson's two-run homer in the seventh inning gave the <span class="sbn-auto-link"><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/">Yankees</a></span> the lead and <span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Mariano Rivera</span></span> worked a perfect ninth to tie the record with his 601st save, as New York rallied for a 7-6 win over the <span class="sbn-auto-link"><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/">Toronto Blue Jays</a></span> in the second of a three-game series at Rogers Centre.</p>
<p><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Alex Rodriguez</span></span> returned to the Yankee lineup after a six-game absence and helped New York roar back from a 6-1 deficit with a three-run homer in the sixth inning. He finished 2-for-4 and Granderson was 3-for-3 with two walks two RBI and scored three times, as New York halted a two-game skid.</p>
<p>The Yankees hold a 4 1/2-game lead over the <span class="sbn-auto-link"><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.overthemonster.com/">Red Sox</a></span> in the AL East. Boston lost to Tampa Bay on Saturday.</p>
<p><span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Mike McCoy</span></span> knocked in three runs for the Blue Jays, who won Friday's opener in walkoff fashion with a 5-4 triumph. Toronto lost for just the second time in its last six games.</p>
<p>Granderson started the Yankee comeback in the sixth with a double and scored when Toronto's <span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Colby Rasmus</span></span> bobbled Mark Teixeira's base hit to center field. After Robinson Cano was hit by a pitch, Rodriguez drilled a <span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Henderson Alvarez</span></span> offering over the left-field wall for his 16th homer to make it a 6-5 game.</p>
<p>Rodriguez hadn't played since September 9 because of a thumb injury that has bothered him since August 21, the day he returned from the disabled list after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery.</p>
<p>New York then went in front in the seventh against <span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Carlos Villanueva</span></span> (6-4). <span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Derek Jeter</span></span> led off with an infield hit before Granderson battled through a 12-pitch at-bat and belted his 40th homer of the season over the wall in center field.</p>
<p>The rally made a winner of <span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Aaron Laffey</span></span> (3-2), who worked a hitless bottom of the sixth. <span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Hector Noesi</span></span> threw the seventh and <span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Rafael Soriano</span></span> struck out all three batters he faced in the eighth before Rivera took over in the ninth.</p>
<p>Rivera caught Colby Rasmus looking at a third strike, then got <span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Brett Lawrie</span></span> on a grounder to first before <span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Eric Thames</span></span> lined out to center for the third out, giving Rivera his 42nd save of the year. It also tied him with <span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Trevor Hoffman</span></span> for the most all-time.</p>
<p>"It's pretty much what Mo's done his whole career," said Yankees manager Joe Girardi. "What can you say about Mo. We've seen a lot of special things."</p>
<p>The Yankee bullpen was nearly perfect in relief of starter <span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Bartolo Colon</span></span>, who surrendered six runs on seven hits with a walk and three strikeouts over four innings. <span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Scott Proctor</span></span> allowed a walk in the fifth inning for Toronto's lone baserunner against Yankee relievers.</p>
<p>"The bullpen did a good job," Girardi added. "It's a great win for us."</p>
<p>Alvarez went the first six innings for Toronto and allowed five runs on nine hits.</p>
<p>Toronto moved in front with four runs in the bottom of the second. <span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Adam Lind</span></span> and <span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>David Cooper</span></span> began the inning with line-drive singles to put runners on the corners and Rasmus ended an 0-for-19 drought with an RBI double to the gap in right-center field. Lawrie followed with a run-scoring grounder and Jose Molina's ground-rule double to left scored another run before McCoy's safety squeeze chased home the last run of the inning.</p>
<p>The Yankees managed a single in each of the first two innings, but Alvarez quickly escaped both times with double-play grounders. New York then stranded a runner in the third before failing to capitalize on a big opportunity in the fourth.</p>
<p>After Granderson led off the fourth with a walk and raced to third on a double by Teixeira, Cano lofted a fly ball to left field. Converted pitcher <span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Adam Loewen</span></span> dropped the ball on the warning track, allowing Granderson to score and leaving runners at second and third. The runners held on a grounder to third by Rodriguez and <span class="sbn-auto-link"><span>Nick Swisher</span></span> followed with a drive to the gap in right-center field. Rasmus made a lunging catch for the second out and Cano, thinking the ball had dropped, raced past a tagging Teixeira at third for the final out.</p>
<p>"I think Robbie thought the ball was going drop for sure," Girardi noted about the baserunning gaffe. "Still, you have to make sure. It was frustrating at the time, but everything worked out."</p>
<p>Toronto tacked on a pair of two-out runs for a 6-1 edge in the bottom half. Rasmus and Lawrie started the inning with singles before Colon retired the next two batters, but McCoy doubled over the head of Swisher in right field to chase home both runners.</p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-yankees/2011/9/17/2432168/yankees-blue-jays-score-mariano-rivera-ties-saves-record-in-7-6-victory-mlb-scoresEd Valentine2011-09-17T08:50:37-04:002011-09-17T08:50:37-04:00Blue Jays 5, Yankees 4: Sabathia Continues to Struggle As Yanks Fall in Toronto
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<p>New Yorkers who have followed the Boston Red Sox’ September swoon may want to start paying attention to what’s happening in their own backyard. And we’re not talking about the Mets here.</p>
<p>The Yankees lost their sixth game in their past nine last night, falling 5-4 to the Blue Jays. The Bombers’ biggest nightmare seemingly continues, as C.C. Sabathia again labored, throwing 120 pitches over just 5 2/3 innings. Sabathia was given a 3-1 lead before allowing three runs in the fifth. The Yanks fought back to tie the game at four, but lost when former Yankee Jose Molina singled in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning.</p>
<p>It was a rare September 2011 day where the Red Sox picked up ground on the Yankees, as Boston beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 in Fenway. The Yankees’ lead has been cut to just 3 1/2 games in the American League East, and they still have two series remaining with the Rays. If the Yankees don’t get their act together soon, we might just want to hold off on getting ready to buy our AL East Champion shirts and hats.</p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-yankees/2011/9/17/2430930/blue-jays-5-yankees-4-yankees-score-mlb-scores-cc-sabathia-mlb-playoffsChris Celletti2011-09-16T18:17:49-04:002011-09-16T18:17:49-04:00Yankees At Blue Jays:
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<p>(Sports Network) - It could be a historic night for a pair of <span class="sbn-auto-link">New York Yankees</span> this evening when the American League East leaders begin a three-game series against the <span class="sbn-auto-link">Toronto Blue Jays</span> at Rogers Centre.</p>
<p><span class="sbn-auto-link">Mariano Rivera</span> enters the contest one save shy of tying the all-time record of 601 set by <span class="sbn-auto-link">Trevor Hoffman</span>, while <span class="sbn-auto-link">CC Sabathia</span> will be trying to become the first Yankee pitcher to post back-to- back 20 win seasons since Tommy John (1978-79).</p>
<p>Sabathia, the first American League pitcher with 19 or more wins in three straight years since Oakland's Dave Stewart won 20 or more from 1987-1990, was denied his 20th win on Saturday in Anaheim, but he pitched well, allowing just a run and eight hits in six innings. He did surrender four walks and fell to 19-8 on the year to go along with a 2.93 earned run average.</p>
<p>Houston's Roy Oswalt (2004-05) is the last major league pitcher to record consecutive 20 win seasons.</p>
<p>Sabathia has beaten the Jays three times this season and is 12-3 lifetime against them with a 2.99 ERA.</p>
<p>New York wasn't able to complete a three-game sweep of the <span class="sbn-auto-link">Seattle Mariners</span> on Wednesday, as the Yankees fell, 2-1, in 12 innings. <span class="sbn-auto-link">Nick Swisher</span> homered in the loss for the Yankees, who have a 4 1/2-game edge on the <span class="sbn-auto-link">Boston Red Sox</span> in the AL East standings.</p>
<p>Toronto, meanwhile, enters tonight's opener on the heels of a thrilling win over the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday. The Jays rallied for three runs in the eighth en route to a 5-4 win at Fenway Park.</p>
<p>"The thing we've shown on a number of occasions," said Toronto manager John Farrell, "is we put some adversity behind us and come and get ready to play a solid game."</p>
<p><span class="sbn-auto-link">J.P. Arencibia</span>, <span class="sbn-auto-link">Kelly Johnson</span> and <span class="sbn-auto-link">Edwin Encarnacion</span> knocked in a run apiece for the Blue Jays, who recovered from an 18-6 loss in Tuesday's series opener and picked up their fifth win in seven games.</p>
<p><span class="sbn-auto-link">Ricky Romero</span> (15-10) allowed six hits and four runs -- three earned -- over eight innings for the win. <span class="sbn-auto-link">Frank Francisco</span> tossed a scoreless ninth for his 15th save.</p>
<p>Getting the call tonight for Toronto will be righty <span class="sbn-auto-link">Dustin McGowan</span>, who will make an emergency start in place of Brett Cecil. Cecil was scratched with a cut finger on his pitching hand hours before the start of Friday's contest.</p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/2011/9/16/2430119/yankees-at-blue-jaysEd Valentine2011-09-14T10:06:24-04:002011-09-14T10:06:24-04:00Mariano Rivera And The Hoopla-Less Save Record
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<img alt="NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 02: Mariano Rivera #42 of the New York Yankees delivers during a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on September 2, 2011 in the Bronx Borough of New York City. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/4rUs_hfI9xZQIl3VzSB0V0qFS6g=/0x18:995x681/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/3887229/123418541.jpg" />
<figcaption>NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 02: Mariano Rivera #42 of the New York Yankees delivers during a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on September 2, 2011 in the Bronx Borough of New York City. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images) | Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p><span>Mariano Rivera</span> recorded his 600th save on Tuesday night, which leaves him one save shy of <span>Trevor Hoffman</span>'s all-time record. Besides comporting himself with class, dignity and humility, Rivera's most important feature is his unhittable cut fastball. There's no pitch in baseball like it. He's a one-trick pony but his one trick is better than anybody else's trick, and now he's on the verge of setting an all-time baseball record. And his manager, Joe Girardi, recently wondered why there isn't more hoopla surrounding the event. Why no Derek Jeter-like pomp and circumstance? Well, the answer is pretty easy, and here are a few reasons why parades aren't being thrown for the Great Mariano -- though none of them have anything to do with Rivera himself.</p>
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<p>Reason number one is most likely because the save is a fairly ridiculous statistic. A reliever can cough up two runs on four hits and a couple of walks and walk off the mound with a save. Over the decades, baseball is littered with average-talented relievers who, nonetheless, have piled up saves. It's a modern phenomenon, created by sportswriter Jerome Holtzman in 1959 (and became an official MLB stat in 1969), made up of somewhat random criteria that often rewards mediocrity. There's nothing wishy-washy about other all-time stat leaders or achievements: 3,000 hits is 3,000 hits, Tris Speaker's 792 doubles are not in doubt and a home run is a home run (well, actually what today is a ground-rule double was once considered to be a home run, but that's a story for another day). Celebrating the save is almost the equivalent of celebrating the all-time Quality Starts leader. And there's not much romance in that.</p>
<p>Another possible explanation why Rivera's impending moment is flying under the radar is the fact that there's no "Cy Young of Saves," with no magic number attached to it. With all due respect to Trevor Hoffman, he's no Cy Young. There's no old-time legend, who generations of fans have watched, read about and revered, who held the record for decades. No Joe DiMaggio and 56. No Roger Maris and 61. No Babe Ruth and 60/714. No Pete Rose and 4,256. No Hank Aaron and 755.</p>
<p>A final reason is that the save record has been broken many times over the past 30 or 40 years, and, again, the save is still relatively new. In the old, olden days, "relief pitcher" was just a euphemism for "not good enough to start." Sure, there was the odd Hoyt Wilhelm here or Joe Page there, but it wasn't until the 1960s and '70s and the era of the fireman when relievers became stars. And guys like Rollie Fingers, Sparky Lyle and Goose Gossage served as closer, setup man and everything in between all by themselves. It wasn't until well into the 1980s and even '90s that managers became slaves to the save stat, which wholly affected their strategic thinking, with the result being that saves are easier to acquire now and have become devalued. John McGraw, Casey Stengel, Gil Hodges and Earl Weaver probably couldn't imagine saving their best reliever for when his team had a lead in the ninth inning.</p>
<p>When anyone piles up 600 of anything, it's impressive, but we'll never know how Rivera would have done if he had to pitch 120 or 130 innings per year. Or how those extra innings would have affected his postseason greatness. Or if another 500 innings were tacked onto his career totals if he'd still be pitching today. But what we do know is that Mariano Rivera is without a doubt the greatest relief pitcher of the modern era of relief specialization of the last 25 years. He's special and is the best ever at what he does, which will earn him a place in the Baseball Hall of Fame, and his 602nd save will be tangible evidence of his greatness however we view the statistic of the save.</p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-yankees/2011/9/14/2424865/mariano-rivera-and-the-hoopla-less-save-record-new-york-yankees-trevor-hoffmanJeff Freier