Swisher's slam leads Yanks past Rangers

Nick Swisher hit his 200th career home run Monday night, a grand slam to be exact, and it pushed the Yankees past the American League West leading Texas Rangers.

The Yankees were trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the third inning when Nick Swisher stepped up with the bases full of Yankees. Swisher took a Ryan Dempster pitch and drove it into the second deck in right field to give the Yankees a 4-2 lead. It was Swisher's 15th homer of the season. Swisher finished the game going 2 for 4 with 5 RBI, and a run scored.

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The Yankees loaded the bases once again in the third, but could only push one more run across with a sacrifice fly by Curtis Granderson.

David Phelps put the Yankees in a hole early giving up runs in the first two innings, but that is all the Rangers would get the rest of the game.Phelps went five innings allowing six hits, two runs, and striking out three Rangers batters while picking up his third win of the season.


Newly acquired Derek Lowe relieved Phelps, and went four innings, allowing no runs and recorded his first save since August 2001, a four inning save.

Texas Rangers starter Ryan Dempster has struggled since coming over from the National League. In his first three starts with the Rangers, Dempster has given up 24 hits, and 16 earned runs. In his previous seven starts, while with the Cubs, Dempster gave up only seven runs.

Eric Chavez continued his hot hitting while replacing the injured Alex Rodriguez. Chavez went 2 for 4 with one RBI, and a run scored, and hit his 13th home run of the season.

Chavez has been on fire since replacing Rodriguez at the end of July. Since July 30th, Chavez is hitting .471 (16 for 34), with five home runs, 10 RBI, and 10 runs scored. Chavez's production has help eased the loss of Rodriguez's bat in the lineup, and the power numbers between the two are not far apart.

Chavez has hit 13 home runs in 198 at bats, while Rodriguez has hit only 15 home runs in 352 at bats this season.

The Yankees and Rangers continue their series tonight at Yankee Stadium at 7 p.m. Hiroki Kuroda (10-8 3.24) will be on the hill for the Yankees, while Matt Harrison (13-6 3.31) will go for the Rangers.

Yankees Unable to Sweep Blue Jays

Yankees vs Blue Jays Post Game Recap 8/12

The Yankees had their 4 game winning streak snapped by the Blue Jays who were able to avoid the sweep beating the Yankees 10-7.

Yankees starter Phil Hughes had a very bad start against a lineup that he should have dominated losing his 10^th game of the season. Hughes was only able to go four innings allowing nine hits, one walk, and seven runs.

New call-up Ryota Igarashi didn’t pitch very well coming in after Hughes letting the Blue Jays extend the lead even more. Igarashi pitched two innings allowing three hit, one walk, and three runs.

Blue Jays left fielder Rajai Davis had a career day against the Yankees going 2 for 5 with five RBIs, a run scored, and a stolen base. Davis also make a spectacular catch robbing Casey McGehee of a homerun in the 7^th inning.

Derek Jeter continues to his hot hitting going 3 for 5. Jeter ripped his 23^rd double of the season knocking in a run, and hit a solo shot in the sixth inning for his ninth homerun of the season.

Robinson Cano was also able to hit a homerun in the sixth inning, a two-run shot scoring Nick Swisher for his 25^th homerun of the season.

Nick Swisher was able to have a nice multi-hit game going 2 for 5 while scoring a run, and knocking in Jeter for his 58^th RBI of the season.

Catcher Russell Martin was the only Yankee starter that wasn’t able to get at least one hit going 0 for 4, as he had a shot to get above the .200 mark in the game but was unable to get a hit.

The Yankees will be heading home to start a big seven game home-stand against the Texas Rangers and Boston Red Sox. The Yankees will start the series with Texas on Monday as it is believed David Phelps (2-3, 2.42) will take C.C Sabathias start, and will face Ryan Dempster (1-0, 6.35).

Yankees Trade for Casey McGehee

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Yankees Trade for Casey McGehee at Deadline

The New York Yankees didn’t do anything major at the trade deadline, but they did fill a need getting Casey McGehee to fill in at first and third base for the injured Alex Rodriguez, and Mark Teixeira. The price wasn’t very high for McGehee, as Chad Qualls was sent to the Pirates for him. This move seems like a good one as with the return of Joba Qualls would have been off the major league roster soon anyways.

Casey McGehee's best season came in 2010 with the Milwaukee Brewers when McGehee hit .285 with 23 homeruns and 104 RBIs. Casey however has not been very good in the season and a half since then, as this year with the Pirates he is hitting .230 with 8 homeruns, and 35 RBIs.

The big talk of the day was about Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster who the Yankees emerged as a possible suitor for Dempster, with Dempster agreeing if traded that he would go to New York with his 10-5 rights. Dempster ended up going to Texas leaving the Yankees only move of the day being the McGehee trade, but the Yankees big move was for Ichiro a week ago which shouldn’t be forgotten.  

Mets End First Half on Down Note, Blasted By Cubs

Mets Blasted by Cubs, End First Half on Down Note

Final Score: Chicago Cubs: 7 New York Mets: 0

The Mets were not able to build off their strong performance Saturday afternoon, falling behind early and never recovered en route to a 7-0 shutout at the hands of the Chicago Cubs.  The Mets lost the season series to the Cubs 4-2.

Even with a disappointing end to the first half, it should still be pointed out that the Mets did have a strong half overall, going into the All-Star break with a 46-40 record.

This afternoon’s game though is one to forget.  Jon Niese gave up four runs in the first inning and the Mets were never able to build any momentum to get back into the game.  Niese would give up a three-run homerun in the 7^th inning to Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro, adding to the insult.  Niese’s final line was seven innings pitched, nine hits, seven earned runs, no walks and three strikeouts.

For the Cubs, Ryan Dempster returned from the disabled list and shut down the Mets.  Dempster threw five shutout innings and four Cubs relievers combined to complete the shut out. 

The Mets managed eight hits, but only one was of the extra-base variety.  They also struggled with runners in scoring position today, going 0-8 and leaving six runners on base. 

Sandy Alderson was in the booth for an inning and a half today, but did not say much in the way of planned roster moves for the Mets.  He was not explicit in the way of trades and would not mention by name which relievers were being looked at as call-ups after the All-Star break.

Next up for most of the Mets is a little break with the All-Star festivities starting Monday.  David Wright, R.A. Dickey and manager Terry Collins will be on their way to Kansas City to take part.  The next game for the Mets will be Friday, July 13^th as Johan Santana (6-5 3.24 ERA) will take the mound against the Atlanta Braves and Tim Hudson (7-4 3.65 ERA).  The Mets will finish the first half five games, at worst, behind the Washington Nationals depending on the outcome of their game. 

Mets Bounce Back Against Cubs Behind Gee

Final Score: Chicago Cubs: 1 New York Mets: 3

The Mets were able to build off of their momentum in the 9^th inning last night and translate that effort into a hard fought 3-1 victory this afternoon over the Cubs.

Dillon Gee pitched outstanding for the Mets this afternoon, tying his career high outing going eight innings.  The last time Gee went eight innings was against the Pittsburgh Pirates June 10th, 2011.

Gee took a scoreless outing into the sixth inning, where he surrendered his only run on a single by David DeJesus.  Gee’s stat line for the game was eight innings pitched, seven hits, no walks and four strikeouts.  Gee will get a lengthy rest, as he is not scheduled to start again until either July 15^th or July 17^th because of the All-Star game.

Gee’s effort did not go to waste as he was backed up by long balls from the Mets offense.

Jordany Valdespin knocked a homerun into right centerfield, almost the exact same spot as his homerun in Friday night’s game.   Valdespin has shown some power with the Mets this season, as he now has four homeruns in only 67 at bats and producing 14 RBI’s.  Since being called backup, his approach at the plate has also looked much better, as he is now earning more playing time and at-bats.

The other runs for the Mets were courtesy of a two-run homerun off the bat of Ike Davis.  It was Davis’s 12^th homerun of the season, tying him with Lucas Duda and Scott Hairston for the team lead. 

Every Met in the lineup today was able to get a hit except catcher Josh Thole and Gee.  

The Mets also made some history today, starting an all homegrown lineup for the 4^th time in franchise history and the second time this season.  The first two occurrences were in a September series in 1971 against Pittsburgh, and the one this season came with the same starting lineup, just with Jon Niese pitching on April 26^th. 

Next up for the Mets is the last game before the All-Star break against the Cubs.  Jon Niese (7-3 3.35 ERA) will take the mound for the Mets as they look to end the first half on a strong note against Cubs starting pitcher Ryan Dempster (3-3 2.11 ERA) who is making his return off the disabled list.  With a win tomorrow afternoon, the Mets can get a season-high eight games over .500.