German_Force » second time this season and

Back on the Yankee Stadium mound for the first time in five years Eddie Goldman Jersey , Andy Pettitte looked completely in control as he warmed up, throwing fastballs, curves and sliders. Then he grooved a pitch down the middle, resulting in a grounder that was misplayed by at first base by Jason Giambi.

Welcome to Old-Timers’ Day, Gramps!

Now a grandfather at age 46 – matching his number retired by the Yankees – Pettitte was joined by Giambi, Nick Swisher, Dion James and current New York manager Aaron Boone in their debuts at the annual event.

”I couldn’t have asked for a better weekend,” Pettitte said Sunday, two days after celebratig his birthday with his family in New York.

Sunday was the 72nd edition of the festive day, featuring Hall of Famers Whitey Ford and Reggie Jackson, plus the always popular Mickey Rivers, Ron Guidry http://www.chicagobearsteamonline.com/kendall-wright-jersey , Johnny Damon and Paul O’Neill.

Swisher was a big hit, too, connecting for a home run during a playful game between the participants.

Also on hand was 93-year-old Bobby Brown, the third baseman who hit .439 in helping the Yankees win four World Series championships. He was a rookie when the Yankees held this event for the first time in 1947, when Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb were in attendance.

”It’s a changing of the guard,” remarked 1960s pitcher Al Downing about the ”younger” Old-Timers.

Pettitte is a high school coach back home in Texas. He posted 219 wins for the Yankees and was a key part of five World Series championship teams, but is still uncomfortable with his place in the team’s history, even when he walks into the today’s New York clubhouse.

”You never look at yourself like that,” he said.

But Pettitte got the proof of what he means this weekend, when he was visiting with current Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia. As they were speaking, pitcher Jonanthan Loaisiga wandered in – on Friday, the 23-year-old made his major league debut and pitched five shutout innings for a win.

”I turned around and introduced myself and he was just staring at me going Andy Pettitte Adrian Kempe Jersey ,”’ he said.

Giambi and Boone homered in batting practice, and James attempted a diving play in center field to the delight of the crowd.

Rivers went into the stands to share a few moments with some fans before the fun-filled exhibition and 88-year-old Don Larsen, who pitched a perfect game in the 1956 World Series, received a standing ovation when he made his way onto the field in a walker.

Yankees rookie second baseman Gleyber Torres, who started a couple hours later in the real game against Tampa Bay, was among several active players who watched from the dugout and mingled with the past stars.

”Just to be able to able to be a part of this crop of guys, some of my ex-teammates and all the Yankee greats is unbelievable,” the excitable Swisher said. ”There are so many amazing men that are here and it’s just an honor to be able to be here and put the uniform on one more time.”

Swisher joked after the game that he wanted to play in a doubleheader. The right fielder saluted New York’s famed Bleacher Creatures in the second inning after initially beginning the day at third base.

Giambi noted game was the first that his young children had ever seen him play in person, except on YouTube.

Pettitte, who had 27 hits during his time in the majors, took three turns at the plate. Guidry gave way to David Cone so the former teammates could face one another.

”I wasn’t expecting to get an at-bat and I got three. It was a fun experience,” he said.

Seven years after making his major league debut as an outfielder Tanner Pearson Jersey , Eric Thames is getting reacquainted with the position for the Milwaukee Brewers.

Normally Milwaukee’s first baseman, Thames has started three straight games in the outfield — including two in a row in left — and has seen the bulk of his action there since returning from a 41-game stint on the disabled list earlier this month.

Manager Craig Counsell has Thames in the outfield as he tries to keep Thames left-handed power bat in the lineup alongside right-hander slugger Jesus Aguilar.

Thames will likely stay in the outfield Friday night as the Brewers continue a four-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals at Miller Park.

Thames played left field and drove in three runs as Milwaukee began the series with an 11-3 win on Thursday.

Aguilar took over as the everyday first baseman when Thames suffered a thumb injury April 25 and has thrived ever since. Aguilar is tied with Travis Shaw for the team lead with 14 home runs.

With the benefit of added offense also comes liability: Thames spent three years playing first base in the Korean League and made just 15 outfield appearances when the Brewers brought him back to the major leagues last season, so there is a little fine-tuning with Thames’ defensive skills.

“It’s not new for him but it is unfamiliar, and we recognize that,” Counsell said. “We understand this isn’t a regular position at this point. There’s going to be some rough edges there, but he’s shown that he can handle the basics.

“There was a ball he misplayed in Pittsburgh, but he came back and made two very nice plays. That’s what we’re going to get and that’s what we’ve got to be willing to live with.”

Counsell is willing to sacrifice a little on defense if it means getting the kind of pop Aguilar and Thames are capable of.

“I think having both of those bats in the lineup is reward enough for that,” Counsell said.

Junior Guerra (3-5, 2.89 ERA) will make a second consecutive start a day after the Brewers scored 10 runs or more. He’s hoping Friday turns out better than the last time, when Milwaukee followed an 11-run outburst against Philadelphia with a 4-1 loss.

Guerra pitched well in that outing. He allowed three runs on four hits over 5 1/3 innings but took the loss for the second time in three starts and is looking for his first victory since May 14 despite posting a 2.67 ERA in the six starts since.

Guerra has already started two games against the Cardinals this season, and is 1-0 in those games while allowing just one run over 11 1/3 innings. He gave up one run on four hits over 5 1/3 innings in a 3-2 victory over the Cards on April 11. Guerra did not get a decision when he faced St. Louis on May 30, although he pitched shutout ball in his six innings Devan Dubnyk Jersey , and the Brewers eventually won 3-2.

He is 2-2 with a 3.82 ERA in six career starts against the Cardinals.

St. Louis has dropped eight of 11 after committing four errors on Thursday and will start right-hander Jack Flaherty (3-2, 2.66).

Flaherty has allowed just one earned run over his last two starts, spanning 11 1/3 innings and has held opponents to no more than a run in six of his nine starts this season.

He held the Cubs scoreless over five innings his last time out on Sunday, striking out nine but didn’t take a decision in the Cardinals’ 5-0 victory.

“I was able to battle and execute when I needed to,” Flaherty said. “I threw a lot of pitches in a short amount of time. I was hoping to go deeper, but that’s how it goes sometimes.”

Flaherty is facing Milwaukee for the second time this season and the third time in his short career.

He made his first start against the Brewers in the 2017 finale at Busch Stadium, going five innings and giving up five hits and four runs and taking the loss. Flaherty made his 2018 debut at Miller Park back in April. He held Milwaukee to a run on six hits while striking out nine but took no decision in the Cardinals’ 5-4 loss.

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