Yankee Pitching Can’t Slow Ranger Bats

(Photos by Ken Carozza)

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, August 17- The Texas Rangers ended their eight-game losing streak at Yankee Stadium on Thursday afternoon with a 10-6 victory over the Yankees. Despite the Texas win, the Rangers trail the Yanks by 1.5 games for the best record in the American League.

After holding the Rangers to a  lowly batting average of .199 (37 for 186) in their games during the 2012 season, the Rangers exploded for 16 hits and 10 runs on Thursday afternoon. After the conclusion of Wednesday night’s contest, Texas Rangers skipper Ron Washington accurately prognosticated the immediate future for his team’s batters, “What I see is that the past three days the Yankees pitchers have shut us down…We’ll bounce back tomorrow. Maybe we need the challenge of facing [Ivan] Nova tomorrow…Maybe tomorrow we’ll bust out.”

Texas busted out from the top of the lineup to the bottom and from the first inning to the ninth. All but one batter, first baseman Mitch Moreland, hit successfully, and Moreland walked twice. Twenty-two Rangers reached base successfully.

The hits were effective as the Rangers were successful in 6 of 15 chances with runners in scoring position. Adrian Beltre and David Murphy each drove in three runs with three hits. Craig Gentry also had three runs batted in, two on a single and one on a ground out. Elvis Andrus AND Geovany Soto each got two hits and drove in one run.

Both starting pitchers, Ivan Nova and Derek Holland, had very similar statistics; each pitched 5.2 innings and gave up four earned runs; neither was involved in the decision.

The Yanks concentrated their offense in one inning, the sixth. Five batters hit successfully and five runs were scored. In the other eight frames, the Yanks were limited to five hits and one run.

Two future Hall of Fame members, Derek Jeter and Ichiro Suzuki, had multi-hit games. Jeter’s single in the sixth drove Suzuki across the plate and increased Jeter’s hitting streak to 12 games. His single in the next inning raised his career total to 3,247, five from tying Napoleon Lajoie for 12^th place in career hits. Suzuki got singles in each of his three official at bats, raising his batting average as a Yankee to above .300 (24 for 77).

On Friday night the Boston Red Sox come to the Bronx for a three game series. Phil Hughes (11-10) will start for the Yanks and Franklyn Morales (3-3) will start for Boston.

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WELCOME TO THE BRONX!

Mugging Victim Says Investigators Made Her Feel Like She Was ‘Asking for It’

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, August 16- A day of shopping and visiting friends became a nightmare for a mother and daughter from New Jersey, as they were attacked for a gold chain-- just hours before and blocks away from where the NYPD would hold it's annual, "National Night Out," event.

The pair were attacked as they stood on the street corner at Allerton Avenue and Wallace Avenue, at 3 p.m., on Tuesday, August 7.

A relative of the pair was with the daughter, a woman in her early 60s and her mother, who is 81-years old, when she turned her back for two-minutes.

The relative recalled, "The parking meter was about to expire, so I went to put a quarter in the meter and I heard a commotion and turned around, and I saw this young fellow in front of her and his hands were by her neck."

The younger victim and the young thief, said to be 17-years old, were both pulling on the chain, even after the two women were knocked to the ground. The relative came running and the two assailants took off up Wallace Avenue.

The relative stated, "She said the officers at the (49th) precinct were wonderful, but she was not happy with the district attorney. He made it seem like she was asking for it. Asking her why she was visiting from New Jersey."

After spending about eight hours at the station-house, one suspect was charged. The younger victim identified the individual in custody as the assailant who attempted to steal the chain, although he claims it was the second individual.

The two women were back in the borough at the Bronx Hall of Justice the following Thursday, at 9 a.m., for the first court appearance-- which of course was postponed.

The relative said of the situation, "Their making it easier for the criminal and if you have to stay eight-hours and then come back for a court case, they're making it more difficult to prosecute."

"The system is not fair," the relative added, "They were the criminals and the district attorney was asking why she was wearing jewelry. So now you can't carry a purse, because it could be snatched?"

Outside the courthouse the victim stated, "I lived in New York before, but it's worse now then it was before, because there are a lot of young people preying on the elderly, out of greed."

Residents say a rash of violent muggings and assaults have taken place around the area in recent weeks.

One area resident recalled an unreported incident, an attack by three to four males on a man who is mute, stating, "They beat and kicked him because they didn't like the way he looked."

The resident added, "He didn't report it because he was scared. A lot of things are going on around here that you don't hear about."

Wallace Avenue resident Jerry Honan recalled the recent robbery of a neighbor's cellphone, recalling, "He asked to be let into the building and the guy just cold-cocked him."

The suspect in that incident was described as a Black male in his 20's, with dreadlocks and wearing a red hat.

Honan added, "It's been busy around here with the violent muggings."

Residents of 2714 Wallace Avenue have a warning posted on the building's front door, warning them of the attacks and instructing them to call police if they see someone suspicious attempting to enter the building.

Residents of the building say the warning was posted after a woman was mugged in the building.

To make matters even worse, police in the 49th Precinct are also looking for an assailant who has slashed two victims in unprovoked attacks along Boston Road-- and robbery doesn't appear to be the motive.

In the latest statistics released by the NYPD, there have been 192 robberies reported in the 49th Precinct so far this year, up from 189 reported in the same time period last year, an increase of 1.6 percent.

There have been 173-felony assaults reported so far this year, up from 155 last year, an increase of 11.6 percent.

This year marked the 29th Annual, "National Night Out Against Crime," where residents are encouraged to come out of their homes and participate in a host of public events, in an effort to bridge better relations between the police and the community.

The evening was marred as well, when three teens were shot at the Haywood Playground in Williamsbridge. All of the victims were removed to Jacobi Hospital and expected to survive.

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Rain Can’t Dampen Yankees

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Bombers in sweep mode with latest win over Rangers

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, August 16- The four-game series in the Bronx this week with the Yankees and Texas Rangers could be a possible prelude to the American League Championship Series in October. So far, after the Yankees rain delayed 3-2 win Wednesday night, the advantage in October could go to New York.

Pitching wins games in the post season, and Yankees starters have certainly quieted a potent Texas lineup. Freddie Garcia, making his 13^th start of the season followed the two-hit shutout of the night before allowing two runs in 6/2-3 innings in winning his third straight start.

Garcia (7-5) allowed four hits and the Yankees bullpen did the rest. Rafael Soriano threw a scoreless ninth and recorded his 29^th save.

“Our guys have done a tremendous job,” said Yankees manager Joe Girardi. “I applaud out pitches.” Ivan Nova, (11-6) will try and get the Yankees a sweep over the Rangers as the series concludes Thursday afternoon at Yankee Stadium.

But it seems the Yankees pitching staff this season has found a way to keep Texas off the bases. The Rangers came into the series as the top hitting team in baseball with a .276 average.

“Once again pitching stops everything,” commented Rangers manager Ron Washington.

Yankees pitching has held Rangers batters to a .199 average this season, and until Josh Hamilton hit the first of two home runs in the fourth inning, another one in the sixth, accounting for their only runs, the Yankees staff had held Texas scoreless for 19 consecutive innings in the Bronx.

“They scored a bunch of runs the first night,” added Washington. “Last night they got another good pitching performance from Kuroda. Tonight we were in the ballgame. But you have to give them credit. Their pitching stopped us.  We’re a team that can score runs but we just haven’t been able to score any right now in these three games here.”

Washington said he was hoping to see his team score some runs Thursday afternoon. But the way the Yankees starters have been going in this series, there may be no need to rush CC Sabathia and Andy Pettitte off the disabled list and back in the rotation.

Said Garcia, who has not lost to the Rangers since 2004, “When you see one guy pitch, and the other guy pitch you’re thinking you got to go out there and try to do the same.” He is 5-0 with a 1.90 ERA during the streak against Texas.

Texas has scored four runs in the three games and has lost eight straight games in the Bronx. Hamilton reached a career high in home runs with 33, and became the second player to drive in 100 runs this season, next to Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera.

“When you are seeing the ball good you feel like you feel like you can pretty much hit anything,” said Hamilton who had a four-home run game earlier this season at Baltimore and recorded his seventh career multi-home run game.

Hamilton came up in the ninth inning against Soriano with a chance to tie the game and struck out.

A three-run third inning was enough runs for the Yankees. Nick Swisher drove in a run off with a double off Texas starter and loser Scott Feldman (6-7). Swisher has driven in seven runs in the series, including a grand slam home run Monday night and a two-run blast Tuesday.

New York won for the seventh time in the last eight games. 

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com. Watch and listen to Rich tonight on www.inthemixxradio.,com live at 10:30 p.m. as he hosts Keep it in the Ring w/Rich&Jason.

Kuroda Pitches Masterpiece

Yanks Defeat Texas, 3-0

(Photos by Gary Quintal)

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, August 15- Starters Hiroki Kuroda and Matt Harrison engaged in an exciting pitching duel on Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium. Kuroda was the superior pitcher of the night as he pitched a complete game victory over the Texas Rangers, 3-0. The win moved the Yankees 1.5 games ahead of the Rangers for the best record in the American League.

The Japanese native lived up the complimentary words uttered by Yankee skipper Joe Girardi before the contest, “He’s met our expectations definitely. He has pitched outstanding for us. Each start he really gives us a chance to win. He’s given us distance. He’s been extremely consistent. It’s what we expected when we got him. The one thing we talked about with Hiroki was this guy can really pitch and locate, and he’s done that.”

Kuroda thrilled the 44,533 fans in attendance by pitching no-hit ball through the first six frames. During that time, the only runners were Elvis Andrus, who walked in the first and Mitch Moreland, who walked in the third.

Andrus broke up the no-hitter with an infield single to lead-off the seventh. Josh Hamilton’s long fly to right and a wild pitch moved Andrus to third, where he was stranded when Nelson Cruz grounded out to end the inning.

Michael Young singled through the middle to begin the eighth, the second and final hit for Texas in the game.

After the contest concluded, Girardi’s words of praise for Kuroda were similar to those uttered before the game began, “It was probably our best pitching performance. I saw he was very good early on. It was pretty much fastball, slider to get ahead [of the batters].

The win was Kuroda’s 11^th of the season. Girardi believes, “Realistically, he could have 15 or 16.”

When asked why he allowed Kuroda to complete the game, Girardi responded, “His pitch count was down [and] his pitches were still good.”

Kuroda, through an interpreter, responded to questions regarding how he felt when his no-hitter ended with the following words, “I feel bad; I let down all the fans. I had to regroup myself a little bit. Even if you throw a no-hitter, it’s only one win. The most important thing was for our team to win.”

Texas starter Matt Harrison handled the Yankees easily though 6.1 innings. Derek Jeter led off the first with a single to left field to raise his hitting streak to 10 games. The hit was his 3,243^rd in the majors. Harrison gave up hits to Casey McGhee in the second, Mark Teixeira in the third and McGhee in the fourth.

Jeter, the last batter Harrison faced singled with one out in the seventh. Jeter, with 3,244 hits, needs only eight to tie Napoleon Lajoie for 12^th place in the career rankings for hits. Of Harrison’s performance, Girardi remarked, “He seemed to get better as the game went on.”

Reliever Alexi Ogando gave up home runs to the first two batters against him. Nick Swisher followed Jeter with his 16^th dinger of the year. Mark Teixeira, the next batter, blasted his 23^rd of the 2012 campaign. Enough damage was done by Yankees batters that inning to ensure the victory.

The Yankees hope to increase their seven game winning streak over the Rangers in Yankee Stadium on Wednesday night as Freddy Garcia (6-5) gets the start against Scott Feldman (6-7).

Dad gets life for beating infant to death in her bassinet

BRONX, NEW YORK, August 14- District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced that convicted murderer Lawrence Johnson has been sentenced to a maximum term of up to life imprisonment in the fatal beating of his three-month-old daughter in December 2006.







The 31-year-old Johnson, of 924 East 181st Street, the Bronx, was found guilty in February 2012 of one count of Murder in the second degree for killing Jayla Omari Mystique Johnson.







Acting State Supreme Court Justice Peter Benitez sentenced Johnson to a term of 25 years to life imprisonment for the depraved indifference murder. Johnson must serve a minimum of 25 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole.







In the early morning hours of December 1, 2006, Johnson killed his daughter by punching her multiple times in the head while she slept in her bassinet at their home at 924 East 181st Street, the Bronx. Jayla was found dead in the morning by her mother.



On December 2, 2006 Johnson confessed to killing his daughter, but subsequently testified at trial that she could have been injured through a series of accidents and that he was forced to confess to her murder by the police.







The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Militano of the Child Abuse/ Sex Crimes Bureau.

Cougar Gate!

Could This Be The End For The Rivera Dynasty?

(Facebook photos of Assemblywoman Naomi Rivera with her boyfriend/staffer and another with an unidentified woman.)

By Robert Press

BRONX, NEW YORK, August 13- Could Cougar Gate torpedo the Rivera political dynasty? The fallout from a Facebook page showing Assemblywoman Naomi Rivera in skimpy clothing and talking about her boy toy have constituents wondering if the Morris Park pol’s days are number. 

In addition, officials are looking into why the elected official put her “Hunky Babe,” on payroll for her office even though he worked full time for the Department of Education. 

In what could be larger than the Congressman Weiner scandal, a Sunday New York Post article exposed a secret Facebook page that Bronx Assemblywoman Naomi D. Rivera had where she is just known as Daniela Rivera her middle name. The Post article says that the Facebook page is devoted to a man complete with dozens of photos of her in various poses with her “Hunky Babe,” who was put on her payroll as a full time staffer (according to NYS Comptroller DiNapoli's office, and Assembly records) while he was a full time teacher in Brooklyn. 

The Post article also shows a photo of Assemblywoman Rivera dressed in skimpy clothes with another woman. The Post article continues to say that the man is now seeking a soon to be vacant City Council seat in Williamsburg Brooklyn. It is said that the man did not return calls, and the Post says that Assemblywoman Naomi D. Rivera denied that he had a no show job, but did not respond to requests for an accounting of his work and hours. The Facebook page in question has since been taken down.

We have been told to look into Assemblywoman Rivera's expense reimbursements, because we were told that she may have put in for expenses when she was not in Albany. We tried calling her office and could not get any comment by our deadline. We also called several of Assemblywoman Rivera’s supporters on the Facebook article, again not getting much more than no comment, so she has a Facebook page, and most people do. An interesting curve here is that early last week we were told by a colleague of hers that her father Assemblyman Jose Rivera was in Florida. We were wondering why her father, who also has a primary less than one month from now, would be out of town. We were told that he was at the home of a close friend resting from the stress of several things that has occurred the past two weeks. We called Assemblyman Jose Rivera's office and were told that yes he was in Florida, and was okay when we asked about his health.

There are people who now are calling for not only Assemblywoman Naomi D. Rivera to resign, but also for her father Assemblyman Jose Rivera to step down. The elder Rivera boasted on NY1 Noticias “Pura Polital” that among other things that he wants to run for the city council next year to increase his pension. A city council member makes up to $50,000 a year more than an assemblyman. 

Go to my blog at www.100percentbronx.blogspot.com for the link to the New York Post article on Naomi Daniela Rivera.

Women Shine in Tennis Tourney

(Photos by Gary Quintal)

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, August 13- The 20^th anniversary of the Bronx Open, a USTA Pro Circuit tennis tournament played at the tennis courts in Crotona Park, was celebrated last week. The prelude to the U.S. Open, the only Grand Slam event hosted in the United States, which will also be played in New York City, is a drawing card to young women pros from all corners of the globe.

The 32 entrants in the main singles draw included players from 13 nations in the continents of North America, Latin America, Asia, Europe and Australia. Thus, the Bronx, as its history reflects, welcomed women from throughout the world.

The players competed to raise their rankings and earn a share of the $50,000 in prize money by their success in the tourney. They also came to sharpen their skills in competition on the same surface and in the sane weather conditions as the U.S. Tennis Center in Flushing, where the U.S. Open will be played two weeks after the Bronx tournament concluded.

Romina Oprandi of Switzerland lived up to her first seed position by capturing the title and winning the $7,315 in prize money with a victory over a former Bronx champion (2001, Anna Chakvetadze of Russia, 5-7, 6-3, 6-3, in the final. After the first set, it appeared as if Chakvetadze was on her way to be the only woman to be a two-time winner of the event. Both reached the exalted final game by defeating young Americans, Chi Chi Scholl (20) and Alison Riske (22) in the semis. Oprandi’s victory was her second tournament win within the past month. It was her 22^nd ITF title.

The doubles final was a clash between two Japanese twosomes. The second seeded team of Shuko Aoyama and Erika Sema defeated the team of Eri Hozuma and Miki Miyamura in straight sets, 6-4, 7-6(4).

Residents of the Bronx and tennis fan visitors were able to see professional tennis free of charge with the only exception being the final on Sunday afternoon, which charged a nominal fee of $10.

Youngsters, ages 6-18, were able to learn or improve their tennis skills with free tennis lessons that were given every afternoon of the tournament from 5-7 p.m. The Thursday session, as it is every year, was the special Kid’s Day. The annual Around the World Parade and other festive children’s activities took place.

The sponsor of the week-long event was Emblem Health.

The health maintenance organization has sponsored the tournament through 18 of its 20 year existence.