Hughes keeps Yanks streaking

Hughes keeps Yanks streaking

Backed by Giambi's slam, rookie turns in six stellar frames

By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com

TORONTO -- Manager Joe Torre sat within a cramped, concrete office at Rogers Centre on Tuesday, allowing himself a smile of temporary content. Finally, his long-held personal goal of 20 games over .500 had been achieved.

That significant marker of October premonitions, voiced for months by Torre in dugouts across America under far bleaker circumstances, finally came to light.

Jason Giambi hit a grand slam, Jorge Posada also homered and Phil Hughes turned in six strong innings as the Yankees won their sixth straight, downing the Blue Jays, 9-2.

"We're in a situation where we have our fate in our hands," Torre said.

The fifth-inning grand slam, Giambi's first home run since Aug. 26, chased Toronto starter Shaun Marcum and opened up a six-run advantage for the American League Wild Card-leading Yankees, who remained four games ahead of the Tigers and moved six in front of the fading Mariners.

"You've got too many veteran players that have been through a lot of situations to start counting," Giambi said. "Guys just keep the ball rolling, and you want to carry it through, hopefully, to the postseason. Right now, we're playing great baseball, and you don't want to change anything."

That was easy for Giambi to say. The slugger's 13th homer snapped a personal 2-for-28 slide and relieved a hearty amount of self-inflicted pressure from the midst of an extended struggle.

Giambi jokingly referred to the 1982 movie "An Officer and a Gentleman" as he described his angst, wondering aloud what his fate might have been had he not come through in the bases-loaded, one-out situation.

The outcome of the game was still very much in question as Giambi stepped to the plate; not so much as he watched the opposite-field drive clear the wall, making the 360-foot trot on the same diamond where he suffered a torn plantar fascia in late May, costing him two months of at-bats but leaving him fresher for the playoff push.

"I've been taking good at-bats, but I haven't gotten a hit," Giambi said. "That was a big one to get off my back in a big situation. Hopefully, I go forward, because I've been swinging the bat decent and getting robbed here and there. After a while, it gets frustrating."

"Jason knows what to do," said Johnny Damon. "He's been in these situations many times leading teams to the postseason. With Jason in the seventh hole, that just makes our lineup so much better."

Giambi's fortunes, and the Yankees', turned once more as Marcum left a high fastball up, his 90th pitch and the one that wound up ending the right-hander's night after yielding eight runs and eight hits in 4 1/3 innings.

The Yankees' damage included a run-scoring wild pitch and Posada's home run -- his 20th, and his fifth this month, in what would be a candidate for the team MVP Award if Alex Rodriguez weren't far and away the runaway choice for league honors.

"It's all about adrenaline, this time of year. You're down inside 20 games to play and you've got something to play for."

-- Yankees manager Joe Torre

Later, in the eighth inning, Posada would need a two-minute breather as a foul ball wrenched the metal of his face mask. More typical respites would be preferable, but it's not as though there is ample time to rest.

"Nobody's fresh," Posada said. "You've just got to go out there and play these games. They mean a lot. You have to keep going out and doing it."

Damon had a two-run single in the second inning and also contributed a diving grab in left-center to aid the 21-year-old Hughes, who logged his first victory since Aug. 10 after battling early control problems.

After leaving the bases loaded in the first inning by getting Aaron Hill to hit back to the mound, thus escaping unscathed from two walks and a hit, Hughes flirted with trouble again in the second inning.

Vernon Wells appeared to have a big hit when he ripped a drive up the gap in left-center field, but Damon -- also running on fresher legs late in the season -- caught up to it, snaring the ball with a full-extension drive.

Hughes' luck would last just one more batter, as Russ Adams came through with a two-run single, but Hughes seemed to calm from there.

Acknowledging that he did not possess his best swing-and-miss stuff, Hughes focused more on pitching to spots and not trying to be too fine, inducing an array of grounders, popups and fly balls while striking out just one batter: Wells, the first he faced.

"I was still aggressive," Hughes said. "I wasn't going to try to nip every corner. I'm not going to change my approach just because my stuff isn't there. I'll still throw fastballs early in the count."

"He just settled in," Torre said. "He just seemed to relax. The last few innings were great."

Pitching well for the second consecutive start after taking a no-decision last time out vs. Seattle, Hughes threw 106 pitches. He allowed two runs (one earned), scattering three hits.

With the game well in hand, Edwar Ramirez recorded six outs -- five via strikeout -- and Ross Ohlendorf came on to make his Major League debut in the ninth inning, retiring Toronto in order while striking out the first man he faced, Lyle Overbay.

Ohlendorf, a starter who had recently been converted to a relief role, could be "very interesting" in the future, Torre said.

Indeed, it was a night for new beginnings. After taking nearly the entire season to get to the 20-games-over .500 mark, Torre said the new goal is now to fall beneath once more.

"It's all about adrenaline, this time of year," Torre said. "You're down inside 20 games to play and you've got something to play for."

Giambi, Pettitte take Yanks past Tigers

Giambi, Pettitte take Yanks past Tigers

First baseman enjoys first multi-homer game of the season

By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com

NEW YORK -- Spending two months out of the Yankees' lineup could have jogged Jason Giambi's perspective a little bit. Then again, it was nothing he hadn't seen before.

On a night when Giambi slugged two home runs, including one of his trademark upper-deck variety, Andy Pettitte reassumed his position as the stalwart of the Yankees rotation. The left-hander pitched eight strong innings to lead New York past the Tigers on Friday, 6-1, keeping the Yankees a half-game behind Seattle in the American League Wild Card race and five games behind Boston in the AL East.

"It's like he's never missed a beat here," Giambi said. "When I played against him with the A's, he was that guy we knew was going to be tough, no matter how good or bad the Yankees were playing. Andy was always that guy, and he's stepped back in that role."

Pettitte (10-7) logged his sixth victory since the All-Star break and won his fourth consecutive start, keeping up his standing as one of the game's most reliable second-half pitchers.

Working economically, Pettitte limited the defending AL champions to five hits over eight innings of one-run ball and, with 104 pitches, likely could have pitched the ninth had rookie sensation Joba Chamberlain not needed the work more.

"I try to take extremely good care of myself," Pettitte said. "I try to train awfully hard in Spring Training before I get to the season starting and try to carry it throughout the year. I'd like to think that's the reason why."

"He's so solid," said Joe Torre, who with the win, his 2,041st as a manager, leaped Walter Alston into seventh place on the all-time list. "That's the only way to describe it. I watched this in 1996. The only thing I see different since he's been back is he doesn't mind being 'the guy' out there."

Detroit scored in unorthodox fashion off Pettitte in the third inning, using a bizarre Brandon Inge RBI double that featured a relay throw cut off by Andy Phillips and an unexecuted rundown play between second and third bases that ended with Inge sliding headfirst. With the slide, Inge avoided a tag from third baseman Alex Rodriguez and right fielder Bobby Abreu -- whose task it was to cover second base on such a play -- nowhere to be found.

That lapse aside, Pettitte otherwise stifled Detroit, striking out five while walking one to improve to 4-0 with a 2.25 ERA in the month of August. For his most recent resurgence, Pettitte credited small mechanical tweaks made before his previous start at Cleveland.

"It's something you can't even see on video," Pettitte said. "You've just got to feel it."

Giambi continued to celebrate his return from a left foot injury by posting his first multi-homer game of the season, clubbing a solo home run off Detroit starter Nate Robertson in the fourth inning and reaching reliever Aquilino Lopez for a right-field, upper-deck shot in the eighth, his 10th and 11th homers.

The first homer was part of a five-run attack against Robertson (7-10), who used 109 pitches to get through six innings and allowed 10 hits and two walks, though he struck out seven.

"When I played against him with the A's, he was that guy we knew was going to be tough ... Andy was always that guy, and he's stepped back in that role."

-- Jason Giambi, on Andy Pettitte's resurgence

Citing his freshness, Giambi seemed to be looking forward to further and similar contributions as the Yankees claw toward their possibility of postseason play.

"I'm excited about it," Giambi said. "Whatever Joe needs, I feel great. Hopefully it will bring a little fresh air, because I rested while I was hurt. This team's been grinding it out. I'll do whatever little things he needs."

Abreu and Rodriguez also had run-scoring hits for New York, while scuffling first baseman Phillips snapped out of a 3-for-16 skid by putting up a three-hit night, including a two-run double off Robertson in the sixth that opened a four-run comfort cushion.

Pumping his fist as he took off down the first-base line, Phillips watched his drive zip over a bad route taken by 20-year-old prospect Cameron Maybin, who was promoted from Double-A Erie earlier in the game and had an inauspicious debut in left field, going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts and a rare play on which he was called out for running into a ball hit in front of the plate.

Similar turns of bad luck aren't foreign territory for Phillips, but Friday's success may signal change.

"It's been interesting, the last week and a half," Phillips said. "I've hit some balls well and right at people, and people have made good plays. That's baseball, and it's no fun to have to swallow it. You keep plugging away."

With Chamberlain, the fresh 21-year-old bullpen weapon, having spent the last three games idle, Torre dismissed any possibility of having Pettitte finish off his gem.

Chamberlain did not disappoint in his sixth Major League inning, entering to chants of his name and handling the heart of the Detroit lineup, getting Gary Sheffield -- a power-on-power matchup -- to fly out before allowing a hit to Magglio Ordonez.

"It looks like it pumps him up," Torre said of the fan reaction. "But when you talk to him and look in his eyes, you don't see that excited feeling. It's something more than a 21-year-old."

Chamberlain retired Guillen and struck out Ivan Rodriguez to secure the game, snapping the Yankees' three-game skid and securing New York's first victory over the Tigers since last year's AL Division Series.

"It's great," Chamberlain said. "You can't describe the feeling. There were a lot of people here going crazy. It makes you feel good, and you kind of use that energy to do the best [you can]."

Notes: Giambi relieved by decision

Notes: Giambi relieved by decision

Yankees slugger ready to move on after helping Mitchell

By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com

NEW YORK -- Jason Giambi expressed relief in escaping discipline from Major League Baseball, given his cooperation with Sen. George Mitchell's ongoing performance-enhancing substances investigation and his own off-field charitable activities.

Saying he considered the matter "over and done with," Giambi had been summoned to meet with Mitchell and discuss his personal training history. Commissioner Bud Selig announced Thursday that Giambi will not be punished, as he was "frank and candid" with Mitchell.

"I'm happy with it," Giambi said. "Now I can move forward and not hurt the ballclub by taking a suspension or anything like that."

In a letter to Giambi, Selig detailed that he had been convinced that further action was unnecessary after learning that Giambi intends to donate $50,000 to the Partnership for a Drug Free America, plus an additional donation of $50,000 in cash or equipment to the Harlem Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program.

Selig's letter also noted that Giambi will make an appearance at the MLB Academy in Compton, Calif., during the offseason, and participate in a check presentation ceremony for the Baseball Tomorrow Fund. Giambi said he had been involved with numerous charities even before agreeing to cooperate with the Mitchell investigation.

"I felt they were good programs and I thought they were great for the kids," Giambi said. "I know they were important for me before any of this was done."

Giambi said that his meeting with Mitchell went "great" and that the Senator handled Giambi's unique circumstances professionally. Giambi said that he was not sure how much his contributions had benefited the investigation.

"I'm just one piece of a huge puzzle, to be honest with you," Giambi said. "I really don't know how in-depth I go in the things I went through. I think they're just trying to go through. We'll see at the end, because I really don't know what is the light at the end of the tunnel."

The Yankees were pleased with the Commissioner's decision regarding Giambi, who recently returned from a left foot injury and started at first base Thursday.

"It's the last thing you want to be talking about," general manager Brian Cashman said. "We support the quality efforts of Bud Selig and the work he's been doing and continues to do to ensure this game is real. I think he's doing everything in his power to do so."

Key decisions: The city of New York honored Alex Rodriguez for hitting his 500th home run on Thursday, with Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg presenting the infielder with a ceremonial key.

"We want A-Rod to know that he will always have a special place here in the greatest city in the world," Bloomberg said. "We hope that Alex will make New York his home for many years to come."

Those were interesting choices of words for the mayor, given Cashman's lengthy appearance on the New York sports talk radio station WFAN Thursday afternoon.

In an interview with host Mike Francesa, Cashman detailed that should Rodriguez decide to opt-out of his contract with the Yankees after this season, the club would have no interest in negotiating to keep the Major League home run leader past that point.

The reasoning, Cashman said, would be that as part of Rodriguez's current contract, the Texas Rangers are still responsible for $30 million on the back end of the deal. If Rodriguez opted out, that provision would be erased and, more than likely, any new club would have to assume that financial windfall plus an increase A-Rod could receive as part of a free-agent contract.

"It's something that has been in the papers before. It's nothing new," Cashman said. "If he opts out, the Yankees lose all that Texas money. It's the time to have the conversation before he decides to stay or go, and we'll do that at the end of the year."

Rodriguez has advised his agent, Scott Boras, that he has no intention of discussing terms of his contract during the season, though he has stated numerous times that he wants to be in New York.

"He's said publicly he wants to stay," Cashman said. "We've said publicly we want to keep him. We've both said we'll talk at the end of the year."

Nothing cooking: Manager Joe Torre said that he would "probably not" speak to Tigers slugger Gary Sheffield during this series in New York. Sheffield made waves with controversial comments that accused Torre of treating white and black players differently during his time with the Yankees.

"I meant what I said, said what I said, and stand by what I said," Sheffield said Thursday.

Torre declined to address Sheffield's comments, a stance he has taken for some time, but did offer compliments for Sheffield the player. Sheffield was booed soundly before his first at-bat in Thursday's game.

"Sheff always played his tail off when he was here," Torre said. "There was no question he went out there and played hard all the time, and needed to win. That's one of the reasons we signed him to begin with."

Time off for Mo? Mariano Rivera will have some down time after suffering the loss in Wednesday's series finale against the Orioles. Rivera allowed three runs in the 10th inning and was hit hard, and though the Yankees insist they do not know of any physical issues, Torre and pitching coach Ron Guidry have agreed that Rivera appeared to be forcing his delivery. Torre suggested that Rivera could be given the next two games off.

Headed home: Cashman said former North Carolina State University right-hander Andrew Brackman, the Yankees' top pick in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, headed home to Cincinnati on Thursday from Birmingham, Ala., where he visited with noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews.

Brackman, 21, agreed to a four-year Major League contract with the Yankees on Wednesday ahead of an 11:59 p.m. ET deadline. He is expected to report to Tampa, Fla., this week, where a number of Draft picks are taking part in a minicamp.

Bomber bits: The Minnesota Twins claimed infielder Chris Basak, who was designated for assignment Wednesday, on waivers. ... The Yankees had a sign posted in their clubhouse warning against interaction with Tigers players this week, due to "medical issues we do not wish to contract." Several Detroit players have battled the flu recently. ... New York entered Thursday's action with the league's best record against the American League Central (23-7).

Coming up: The Yankees and Tigers play the second game of their four-game series on Friday at Yankee Stadium, with New York sending left-hander Andy Pettitte (9-7, 3.93 ERA) to the mound opposite left-hander Nate Robertson (7-9, 5.01 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET.

Selig chooses not to discipline Giambi

Selig chooses not to discipline Giambi

'Appropriate decision' based on veteran's charitable endeavors

By Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com

TORONTO -- Yankees slugger Jason Giambi won't face any disciplinary actions from Major League Baseball for his comments about his own use of performance-enhancing drugs, which received wide circulation in May, Commissioner Bud Selig said Thursday.

The decision comes a little more than a month after Giambi met with former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell and members of his law firm, DLA Piper, which has been investigating MLB's so-called steroids era for the past 17 months. Selig had demanded that Giambi meet with Mitchell before determining whether there should be any action.

"There's more to it than that," Selig told reporters after Thursday morning's owners meetings broke without a vote on any items. "He's doing a lot of public service work. He was forthright with Senator Mitchell -- at least that was Senator Mitchell's conclusion. I think with all the off-field charitable activities he's doing, this will do more good. Given everything, this is an appropriate decision."

Selig said that Giambi, who is earning $20 million this season, intends to donate $50,000 to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America and make an additional $50,000 contribution in cash or equipment to the Harlem chapter of the RBI program. In addition, Giambi has agreed to make an appearance this offseason at MLB's Youth Academy in Compton, Calif.

"I'm happy with it," Giambi said in New York before the Yankees started a four-game series with the Tigers. "Now I can move forward and not hurt the ballclub by taking a suspension or anything like that."

On Aug. 7, Giambi was reinstated by the Yankees from the disabled list after a left foot injury kept him from playing since May 30. Giambi is currently batting .270 with nine home runs and 26 RBIs in 51 games.

Giambi has one guaranteed year remaining on the seven-year, $120 million free-agent contract he signed prior to the 2002 season. Because the deal was back-loaded, he is owed $21 million for next season and at least a $5 million buyout for 2009.

Yankees officials, here for the meetings, were not aware of the Commissioner's decision until they were told about it by reporters.

After reading a press release, Yankees president Randy Levine said that the club was fully supportive of Selig's decision.

"The Commissioner took the action and he's the person empowered with doing this, and we support his decision," Levine said.

"And it's clearly appropriate," added Lonn Trost, the club's chief operating officer.

Giambi, after essentially publicly admitting his use of performance-enhancing drugs, was the first active player to meet with the committee that was established last year to investigate who did what and when during MLB's steroids era. Selig said on Thursday that Giambi's situation was special and he didn't plan to intervene in any others as far as the players are concerned.

"Senator Mitchell does that," Selig said. "This was a special circumstance. I have no other plans to do anything."

Officials from MLB and the Major League Baseball Players Association reached a compromise regarding the context under which Giambi would speak about his past use of performance-enhancing drugs before he met with Mitchell's committee.

Giambi didn't have to talk about other players. In addition, there was no transcript or recording of the meeting.

On June 6, Selig gave Giambi a two-week deadline to make a decision about meeting with Mitchell and then reportedly threatened to suspend him if he did not comply.

The fact that Giambi agreed to a meeting was a breakthrough for the committee. During his investigation, Mitchell has had little cooperation from either the Players Association or the individual current players, who previously have all declined to meet with his group.

Mitchell was charged with investigating and submitting a report to MLB about the steroids issue in March 2006. This year, he has been negotiating with the Players Association to obtain medical documents and player interviews, but up until now, those efforts have been unsuccessful. His committee doesn't have the authority to subpoena documents or compel testimony.

Four years ago, Giambi was among a number of athletes who appeared before a grand jury investigating the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative for money laundering and the illicit sale of performance-enhancing drugs. In his testimony, illegally leaked to the San Francisco Chronicle, Giambi admitted that he had used steroids, although the full text of that testimony has never been released.

Giambi came under pressure this season following the May 18 publication of statements he made to USA Today in which he vaguely talked about his drug use, saying he shouldn't have used "that stuff."

He also chastised MLB by saying: "What we should have done a long time ago was stand up -- players, ownership, everybody -- and said, 'We made a mistake.' We should have apologized back then and made sure we had a rule in place and gone forward."