Youkilis Heading Back to DL to Join Granderson and Teixeira

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

The injury bug looks to be making a permanent residence in the New York Yankees clubhouse as it was announced that first baseman/third baseman Kevin Youkilis will have require surgery on a herniated disk in his back. Surgery is scheduled for Thursday and the timetable for recovery is 10-12 weeks, effectively ending his tenure as a Yankee before it really got started.

Curtis Granderson had a fractured forearm in spring training that forced him to miss the first six weeks of the season but found himself on the DL 10 days after fracturing the pinkie finger on his left hand.

Yankees Bounce Back Against Astros

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By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 30th, 2013

Houston Astros vs. New York Yankees Post Game Recap

Final Score: Astros 4 Yankees 7

The New York Yankees were able to bounce back on Tuesday night after an embarrassing loss to one of the worst teams in the majors on Monday night in the Astros. The win now puts the Yankees record at (16-10) for a very successful month of April.

Yankees Starter Hiroki Kuroda was able to finish up a very successful month of April with his fourth win of the season, despite looking very shaky in the first three innings of the game. The Astros had three hits and walked four times in the first three innings, while having a runner reach third base in each inning, but Kuroda was able to wiggle out of trouble, and once the fourth inning hit it was smooth sailing for Kuroda. He finished going seven shutout innings allowing four hits, four walks, and struck out eight batters in the win.

Yankees Complete Four Game Sweep of Blue Jays

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By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 28th, 2013

Toronto Blue Jays vs. New York Yankees Post Game Recap

Final Score: Blue Jays 2 Yankees 3

The New York Yankees were able to complete the four game sweep on the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday afternoon, and with the win the Yankees are now (15-9) on the season, as their surprisingly good start to the year continues.

Yankees Starter Phil Hughes had his third consecutive strong start for the Yankees, but didn’t factor in the decision. Hughes went six innings allowing two runs on seven hits, and one walk. Hughes had the strikeout pitches working, as he fanned nine batters on Sunday. This was Hughes third start in a row that he allowed two runs, as his early season woes seem far behind him now.

The Yankees bullpen was great in this one, as Boone Logan, David Robertson, and Mariano Rivera finished off the final three innings. Logan earned his first win of the season, by pitching a scoreless seventh inning. Robertson was solid in the eighth inning leading to Rivera earning his eighth save of the season, which is the most saves he’s ever had in April.

Poor Start From Sabathia Leads to Yankees Loss

nytimes.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 22nd, 2013

New York Yankees vs. Tampa Bay Rays Post Game Recap

Final Score: Yankees 1 Rays 5

The New York Yankees series in Tampa Bay against the Rays didn’t start well, as they played pretty poorly in all aspects of the game. The loss moves the Yankees to (10-8) so far on the season, and is their second straight loss.

Yankees Starter C.C. Sabathia came into this start winning three straight games, but that streak was ended in Tampa Bay. In Sabathia’s second loss of the season he went seven innings allowing five runs on seven hits, and two walks. Sabathia velocity was a little bit better in this game, but that didn’t help him keep the ball in the park, as he gave up three homeruns, two of which were given up to Ryan Roberts, and one to Yunel Escobar. Since Sabathia has joined the Yankees, Tampa Bay hasn’t been very good to him, as the Yankees have only won one of the nine games he’s pitched in Tropicana Field.

Yankees Beat Blue Jays in Extra Innings

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By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 20th, 2013

New York Yankees vs. Toronto Blue Jays Post Game Recap

Final Score: Yankees 5 Blue Jays 3

The New York Yankees were able to pick up their second straight win in Toronto against the Blue Jays on Saturday afternoon despite blowing a lead late in the game, which caused the Yankees to have to get the win extra innings.

Yankees Starter Hiroki Kuroda was fantastic for the second straight start, but the bullpen blew what should have been a win for Kuroda. Kuroda went 7.1 innings only allowing one run on three hits, one walk, and was able to strikeout seven batters. Kuroda didn’t allow a run until the eighth inning, as his good start to the season has given Kuroda a great (2.35 ERA) in April so far.

David Robertson came in the game in the eighth inning, but was unable to get the job done for the Yankees. Robertson entered the game with a two run lead, but he gave up that lead on two hits, and a walk. Robertson was forced to throw 31 pitches in his appearance, which would make it seem likely that he will not be available for Yankees on Sunday.

Mariano Rivera got to get his save opportunity a little later than the Yankees would have hoped, but he did get the job done. Rivera’s good start to the season continued, as he picked up his fifth save in five chances with ease in the 11th inning.

The Yankees offense was lead by former Blue Jay Vernon Wells, who has raked against his former team in the first two games of the series. On Saturday Wells got the Yankees on the board with a solo-homerun that hit the foul pole in Left Field. For Wells it was his fifth homerun of the season, and he finished the game going three for five with two runs scored. The last two games have been great for Wells, as he’s gone five for nine, with two homeruns, three RBIs, and four runs scored.

Kevin Youkilis got the Yankees a comfortable lead in the fifth inning with the bases loaded, as he was able to rip a line drive that seemed to go thru Blue Jays Third Baseman Brett Lawrie, and two runs scored. Youkilis didn’t come back into the game however, as apparently his back stiffened up on him, and he was replaced at First Base by Lyle Overbay.

The Yankees got a bit lucky to get the two go ahead runs, as Blue Jays Reliever Aaron Loup threw the ball into Left Field instead of taking the sure out at First Base after a sacrifice bunt by Ichiro.

The Yankees will be thinking sweep on Sunday against the Blue Jays, as Ivan Nova (1-1, 5.59 ERA) will be facing Josh Johnson (0-1, 6.91 ERA).

Hafner Powers Yankees Past Dbacks

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By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 17th, 2013

Arizona Diamondbacks vs. New York Yankees

Final Score: Diamondbacks 3 Yankees 4

The New York Yankees were trailing for most of this game, and it looked like they weren’t going to be able to get a win in this one, but some late-inning hitting got the job done for the Yankees, as they won their third straight game.

C.C. Sabathia was able to pick up his third win of the season, but there has to be some concerns about the velocity of his pitches, which has dropped a good amount from last season. In all of his starts velocity has been down, and this one would be no different for Sabathia, as his fastball never got above 90mph, and his slider was down to 77mph, which is about a three to five mph drop from his normal. Sabathia despite having his velocity down was able to go eight innings allowing only three runs on six hits, and one walk.

Yankees Win First Interleague Game Against Diamondbacks

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By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 16th, 2013

Arizona Diamondbacks vs. New York Yankees

Final Score: Diamondbacks 2 Yankees 4

The New York Yankees were able to pick-up their first win against a National League team in the Arizona Diamondbacks much earlier than usual in the season due to the Houston Astros moving to the American League West, which forces Inter-League play throughout the season.

Yankees Starter Ivan Nova wasn’t great by any means, but he wasn’t bad either, as he gave the Yankees exactly what they need from their fifth Starter. In Nova’s first win of the season he pitched a season-high five innings allowing just two runs, but he did give up seven hits, and two walks. He never let the Diamondbacks break thru for a big inning, but Nova was in trouble in almost every inning.

Yankees Have 4 Game Winning Streak Snapped by Orioles

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By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 13th, 2013

Baltimore Orioles vs. New York Yankees

Final Score: Orioles 5 Yankees 3

The New York Yankees fell to the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday afternoon, as the Yankees four game winning streak came to an end, and with the loss Sunday will be rubber game of the first series between these two teams.

Yankees Starter Phil Hughes got roughed up in his second start of the season, and for the second time couldn’t make it to the fifth inning, as he doesn’t look right due to missing a lot of spring training with the neck injury. Hughes went only three innings, while allowing five runs on nine hits, and two walks. Giving up homeruns was a problem for Hughes last year, and on Saturday it was one again, as he gave up three solo-homeruns to Ryan Flaherty, Nick Markakis, and Nolan Reimold.

Yankees Make It 4 Straight by Beating Orioles

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 12th, 2013

Baltimore Orioles vs. New York Yankees Post Game Recap

Final Score: Orioles 2 Yankees 5

After two straight days of games postponed due to rain in Cleveland against the Indians, the Yankees returned home to play the Baltimore Orioles, and were able to keep up their winning ways, as the Yankees four game winning streak has put the them over .500 for the first time this season at (5-4).

For the second straight start Yankees Ace C.C Sabathia looked very good, as he picked up his second win of the season. Sabathia went eight strong innings allowing only one earned run on eight hits, and one walk, while striking out nine batters. Mariano Rivera came in to pitch the final inning to lock up the win for Sabathia, and it went rather smoothly for the Sandman, as he only gave up one hit in his inning of work.

Yankees Blow Out Indians for Third Straight Win

nytimes.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 9th, 2013

New York Yankees vs. Cleveland Indians Post Game Recap

Final Score: Yankees 14 Indians 1

After a rough beginning to the season the Yankees have gotten three straight wins, as the offense has been great, and so has the pitching, both of which has led the Yankees back to the .500 mark at (4-4).

The Yankees were once again led by a great start from their 40 year old pitcher Andy Pettitte, who picked up his second win in as many starts on Tuesday. Pettitte went a strong seven innings only allowing one run on five hits, and three walks. Pettitte’s one mistake came in the sixth inning, when he allowed a solo homerun to Asdrubal Cabrera, which was his only blemish.

Yankees Beat Tigers to Avoid Sweep

nytimes.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 7th, 2013

New York Yankees vs. Detroit Tigers Post Game Recap

Final Score: Yankees 7 Tigers 0

The New York Yankees were able to pick up a big win over the Detroit Tigers on Sunday afternoon, in what was the best game overall from the entire Yankees team so far early in the season. The win puts the Yankees at (2-4) in the first week of the season.

Yankees Ace C.C. Sabathia had a bounce back start from a disappointing Opening Day start, as he was able to earn his first win of the season with the great start against the Tigers lineup. Sabathia went seven shutout innings, only allowing four hits, and three walks, while striking out four Tigers batters.

Tigers starter Justin Verlander, who is one of the best pitchers in all of baseball, didn’t have his best stuff on Sunday against a weak Yankees lineup, which resulted in his first loss of the season. Verlander went 7.1 innings allowing three runs, on seven hits, two walks, and surprisingly only had four strikeouts.

Yankees Lose Second Straight to Tigers

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By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 6th, 2013

New York Yankees vs. Detroit Tigers Post Game Recap

Final Score: Yankees 4 Tigers 8

The New York Yankees early season struggles continued on Saturday afternoon, as they lost their fourth game already this season, and are now in danger of being swept by the Detroit Tigers.

For the second straight day a Yankees starting pitcher was unable to make it thru five innings of work, on Saturday that was Phil Hughes. Hughes looked shaky early giving up a run in the first inning, but settled down until the fifth inning, when it all went downhill for Hughes. In the loss Hughes finished going only four innings, while allowing eight hits, and four runs, only three of which were earned due to an error by Jayson Nix in the first inning.

Yankees Lose Series Opener to Tigers

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By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 5th, 2013

New York Yankees vs. Detroit Tigers Post Game Recap

Final Score: Yankees 3 Tigers 8

The New York Yankees after picking up their first win of the season on Thursday night against the Red Sox had the tough task of traveling to Detroit, and playing an extremely rare Friday afternoon game, which resulted in the Yankees third loss of the season.

Yankees Starter Ivan Nova looked like the pitcher of the second half of the 2012 season, which is something the Yankees hoped that they wouldn’t be seeing in 2013. Nova was all over the place, as the location of his pitches was a crapshoot all game, and at one point he went to a full count to six straight Tigers batters. Nova due to his ineffectiveness went only 4.2 innings, while allowing four runs on five hits, and two walks.

Yankees Lose Second Straight to Red Sox

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By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 3rd, 2013 

Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees Post Game Recap

Final Score: Red Sox 7 Yankees 4

The New York Yankees were unable to avenge their Opening Day loss to the Red Sox, as the Bronx Bombers lost for the second straight game on Wednesday against their arch rivals.

Hiroki Kuroda’s first start of the season went almost as bad as one could imagine, as he only pitched 1.1 innings due to try to bare hand a line drive from Shane Victorino in the second inning, which forced him to leave the game. Kuroda’s final line was 1.1 innings pitched, as he gave up four hits, one walk, and two earned runs. There is no word yet on how bad Kuroda’s pitching hand it hurt, but taking a line drive off a bare hand can’t feel very good.

Yankees Lose to Red Sox on Opening Day

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By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 1st, 2013

Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees Post Game Recap

Final Score: Red Sox 2 Yankees 8

The New York Yankees didn’t get off to a good start on Opening Day with their injury depleted team, as the Boston Red Sox handed the Yankees their first loss of the season in convincing fashion.

The Yankees Ace and Opening Day Starter C.C. Sabathia, who is expected to carry the Yankees rotation, did not look good at all in his first start. Sabathia really struggled with his control, and his fastball was lackluster, as he had problems getting it over 91 mph, which made his changeup ineffective with only a five to six mph difference between the two pitches. Sabathia only went five innings, while giving up eight hits, four walks, and four runs, while striking out five in the loss.