The Sports Xchange
MLB Team Report – New York Yankees – INSIDE PITCH
Second baseman Robinson Cano has been viewed by many as shortstop Derek Jeter’s successor as the face of the Yankees’ franchise. Thursday, the second baseman completed the first half of his journey as he tries to join Jeter in the 3,000-hit club.
Cano recorded his 1,500th career hit in the third inning with a single against Rockies lefthander Jeff Francis, snapping an 0-for-9 start to his series in Colorado. Cano later added a solo home run, helping the Yankees to a 3-1 win and a series victory at Coors Field.
“It means a lot,” Cano said. “I would say it’s one of the dreams come true. When you get to the bigs, you want to be successful. And this is one of the things that I told myself could come if I just keep working hard every day. You just forget about that now, and just keep playing.”
Cano was well aware of the milestone, having failed to record a hit in consecutive games for only the second time all season. He worked with hitting coach Kevin Long Thursday morning to approach the problem, which was primarily his propensity for swinging at pitches outside the strike zone.
“Yeah, I was chasing everything, swinging at everything,” said Cano, who struck out twice on Wednesday to snap a streak of 38 plate appearances without a strikeout. “That’s not what you want to do in the games. I had time to sit down with Kevin and we took a little bit of everything. We just agreed that I’ve just got to get deeper and get your pitch.”
Cano’s home run also moved him past Paul O’Neill for 17th place on the Yankees’ all-time list, but the second baseman was more excited to lead his team to a second straight win against the Rockies, who blanked New York in the series-opener.
“It’s good, of course,” Cano said of his personal achievements. “But the big thing is we were able to win this series. It’s a great thing to get on base and be able to help the team win games.”
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MLB Team Report – New York Yankees – NOTES, QUOTES
RECORD: 20-13
STREAK: Won two
PAST 10 GAMES: 6-4
NEXT: Yankees (Phil Hughes, 1-2, 3.60) at Royals (Wade Davis, 2-2, 4.75)
PLAYER NOTES:
–RHP Mariano Rivera, who had never pitched at Coors Field, saved the final two games of the series. Coors Field is the 35th different stadium where Rivera has pitched and the 31st where he has recorded a save.
–2B Robinson Cano’s infield single in the third was the 1,500th hit of his career. Cano homered in the fifth. It was his 186th career homer, surpassing Paul O’Neill for 17th place all-time in Yankees history.
–LF Vernon Wells went 2-for-4 to finish the series 5-for-12 with one homer, three RBIs and two runs scored. On the road this season, he’s 19-for-49 (.388) with three doubles, four homers and eight RBIs.
–RHP Phil Hughes has gone 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA in his past four starts after beginning the year 0-2 in his first two outings. He earned his first win in his last start Saturday against the Oakland Athletics in New York’s 4-2 victory, allowing four hits in a season-high eight scoreless innings with two walks and nine strikeouts.
–OF Curtis Granderson began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Thursday. Granderson, who went 1-for-3 in the game, is targeting a mid-May return from a fractured forearm suffered Feb. 24.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “We just did a lot of little things right. When we had opportunities to score, we did. There weren’t a lot of runs scored in Colorado. I can’t imagine people would have predicted that here. Three days here and we won two close games.” Manager Joe Girardi after a win at Colorado on Thursday.
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MLB Team Report – New York Yankees – ROSTER REPORT
MEDICAL WATCH:
–INF Eduardo Nunez (left ribcage tightness) was removed from the May 5 game and had an MRI that showed only minor inflammation. He didn’t play May 6-8, and he likely won’t play May 9.
–RHP Joba Chamberlain (right oblique strain) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 28.
–3B Kevin Youkilis (lumbar spine sprain) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 28. He received an epidural injection April 30, and the Yankees are hoping he will be back when he’s eligible to return May 13.
–RHP Ivan Nova (right triceps inflammation) went on the 15-day disabled list April 27. He pitched in extended spring training May 8, throwing four innings while reporting no problems. He could be activated as early as May 13.
–OF Curtis Granderson (fractured right forearm) was hurt Feb. 24 when hit by a pitch. He went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 22. He had his brace removed April 11 and began a throwing program. He began doing contact-hitting drills in late April. He started playing in extended spring training games in Tampa on April 30, and he began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on May 9. He is targeting a mid-May return.
–1B Mark Teixeira (torn tendon sheath in his right wrist) was hurt March 5, and he went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 22. He began taking dry swings with light fungo bat in late April and began contact-hitting drills on May 1, starting with tee-and-toss. Teixeira was due to move his rehab to Tampa in early May. Manager Joe Girardi has said it’s unlikely Teixeira will return before June.
–C Francisco Cervelli (fractured right hand) went on the 15-day disabled list April 27, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on May 1. He is expected to be ready to resume baseball activity in mid-June.
–SS Derek Jeter (left ankle surgery in October 2012) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 22, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on April 27. He was shut down from his rehab program in late April after a CT scan revealed a small fracture in his left ankle area. He was placed in a walking boot, and he isn’t expected to return to action until after the All-Star break.
–RHP Michael Pineda (right shoulder surgery in May 2012) went on the 60-day disabled list March 16. He continues to rehab after having a torn labrum repaired, and he is unlikely to pitch before June.
–3B Alex Rodriguez (left hip surgery in January) went on the 60-day disabled list Feb. 13. He began baseball activities May 6, and the Yankees expect to have him back after the All-Star break.
–LHP Cesar Cabral (stress fracture in left elbow) went on the 60-day disabled list March 26.
ROTATION:
LHP CC Sabathia
RHP Hiroki Kuroda
LHP Andy Pettitte
RHP Phil Hughes
LHP Vidal Nuno
BULLPEN:
RHP Mariano Rivera (closer)
RHP David Robertson
LHP Boone Logan
RHP David Phelps
RHP Adam Warren
RHP Preston Claiborne
CATCHERS:
Chris Stewart
Austin Romine
INFIELDERS:
1B Lyle Overbay
2B Robinson Cano
SS Eduardo Nunez
3B Jayson Nix
DH Travis Hafner
INF Chris Nelson
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Vernon Wells
CF Brett Gardner
RF Ichiro Suzuki
OF Brennan Boesch
OF Ben Francisco
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