Yankees baseball blog

Mike Mussina wins 20 games for first time as Yankees beat Red Sox, 6-2

The monkey is finally off the Moose's back. After 18 years of being "Mr. Almost," Mike Mussina recorded the first 20-win season of his career with the Yankees' 6-2 decision over the Red Sox Sunday in the first game of a day-night doubleheader at Fenway Park. The Yankees dropped the nightcap, 4-3, in 10 innings to finish the season 89-73. Mussina also may have pitched the final game of his career, hinting that he might hang up his spikes to go home to his wife and three children in Pennsylvania.

"As of right now, it's my last game in my last year, so I don't know what the future holds," Mussina said. "It could be my last year or it may not be my last year, but when you get to your 18th season, it could always be your last year." Continue

Yanks seal Boston's fate as Wild Card

It had been more than a decade since the Yankees visited the home of their archrival with no personal playoff aspirations to play for, a scenario so foreign that most were not quite sure what to expect upon checking in. The result turned out to be an offensive bonanza, as the Yankees thumped the Red Sox, 19-8, on a wet and late Friday evening at Fenway Park, setting season highs in runs scored and hits (20) before a noticeably thinned crowd braving inclement weather. Continue

Mariano Rivera has MRI; Jays beat Yankees 8-2

- Despite Joe Girardi's attempt at a coverup, it was revealed last night that Mariano Rivera returned to New York Thursday for an MRI after informing the Yankees that he has nagging discomfort in his right shoulder. Results of the MRI won't be available until today, when Rivera is expected to rejoin the Yankees in Boston. "Once we were eliminated, he said his shoulder had been barking, so we decided to get it looked at," general manager Brian Cashman said in a telephone interview. "We could have waited until after the weekend, but we figured we wouldn't mess with it." Continue

Yankees' Hughes saves best start of year for last

Joe Girardi said Phil Hughes didn't need a win to give him peace of mind going into the offseason. Hughes echoed that as he and Girardi said it would be more important to pitch well. Hughes couldn't get a win last night, but the Yankees were pleased to see him match up evenly with top free-agent-to-be A.J. Burnett in a 6-2 victory over the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.

Bobby Abreu's 10th-inning grand slam off Jesse Carlson (7-2) lifted the Yankees to victory. Abreu, who hopes to secure a contract to return to the Yankees, had a couple milestones in his sights. The home run was his 20th, making him one of only three players with eight seasons of 20-plus homers and 20-plus steals (Barry and Bobby Bonds each had 10). Abreu has 99 RBIs and 95 runs scored. Continue

Mike Mussina gets 19th win, but Yanks officially eliminated from playoffs

Mike Mussina's dream might still be alive, but the Yankees watched theirs die Tuesday night on the out-of-town scoreboard at the Rogers Centre. Mussina moved another step closer to his first 20-win season, beating the Blue Jays, 3-1, to move within one victory of the milestone. Unfortunately for the Bombers, the Red Sox held on for a win over the Indians in Boston, eliminating the Yankees from the playoff race, bringing their 13-year run of October baseball to an end.

"It basically boils down to we weren't good enough," said Derek Jeter, who had reached the playoffs in each of his first 12 full seasons. "Our team didn't play well enough the whole season in order to get where we needed to be." Continue

Yankees close out House That Ruth Built with 7-3 win over Orioles

Aura and mystique weren't going to let Yankee Stadium go out any other way. With their tragic number down to one, the Bombers staved off elimination in the final game at Yankee Stadium, beating the Orioles, 7-3, Sunday night to send the old ballpark toward the wrecking ball with one last pinstriped victory. "It almost felt like a playoff series that we just won," Andy Pettitte said of an atmosphere that actually rivaled a World Series game. "It's going to be right up there as far as special nights."

Derek Jeter put the finishing touches on the night, tipping his cap to the sellout crowd after the game and taking the microphone to thank the fans for their years of support, even as he urged them to continue the tradition next year at the new Yankee Stadium. Continue

Robinson Cano's walk-off single beats Orioles, keeps Yankees barely alive

Robinson Cano won't have many good memories from his 2008 season, but Saturday will surely be among the few he will treasure for years to come. The struggling second baseman hit a game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth, lifting the Yankees to a 1-0 win over the Orioles in the penultimate game at Yankee Stadium.Cano's hit helped keep the Yankees' razor-thin playoff hopes alive for at least one more day, as the Bombers will control their own destiny Sunday when it comes to being eliminated on their own turf. Continue

Win was nice over Orioles, but shift is now on Stadium swan song

The Yankee Stadium countdown continued Friday night, but Sunday night's ballpark finale was at the forefront of everyone's minds. With playoff elimination rapidly approaching - the Bombers can be officially knocked out as early as today - the anticipation of the final game at The House That Ruth Built is growing for what surely will be a memorable night.

"I can't even imagine what Sunday is going to be like," manager Joe Girardi said. "You think of a seventh game of a World Series. I never had to play in one of those, and I'm glad I didn't have to do that, but you can just imagine the attention that's going to be brought to this historic building. I'm really looking forward to it. There's going to be a lot of emotions for me." Continue

Mike Mussina wins last start at Stadium as Yankees beat White Sox

The plan was hitched by pitching coach Dave Eiland: Send Mike Mussina, pitching his last game at Yankee Stadium, out to throw to one batter in the seventh inning and then take him out and let him enjoy the ovation. Joe Girardi even threw in an unexpected souvenir - the game ball.

Mussina shook hands with the manager and walked off the Stadium mound to thunderous applause Thursday night after throwing six strong innings in a 9-2 Yankee victory over the listing White Sox that put him two victories from his first 20-win season. Most from the crowd of 53,152 stood and chanted "Mooose, Moose," as Mussina approached the Yankee dugout. Continue

Phil Hughes labors through 4 innings in return, Yanks beat White Sox, 5-1

With the Yankees' playoff hopes all but dashed, there is no present for the Bombers these days, only a storied past and an uncertain future. While fans attending the final few games at Yankee Stadium are reveling in the park's history, the team itself is hoping for a glimpse of something useful from certain players while everyone else completes a numbing run through the schedule.

For several moments Wednesday night, Phil Hughes showed why he has long been considered an untouchable young pitcher. But Hughes, who was making his first start in the majors since April29, struggled to put away White Sox hitters, who kept fouling off his pitches. Ultimately, Hughes threw too many and was gone after only four innings. Continue