NEW YORK —
Alex Rodriguez was hit by a pitch after he homered, Bartolo Colon pitched two-hit ball into the seventh inning before he hurt himself, and the New York Yankees beat the Cleveland Indians 4-0 on a misty, windy Saturday afternoon.

Curtis Granderson hit his 20th homer of the season and Rodriguez got plunked by Indians starter Mitch Talbot a day after the teams’ benches cleared, adding another chapter to what has been a testy homestand for the Yankees.

It was the sixth time a Yankees batter has been hit this homestand.

“I thought it was a little fishy,” manager Joe Girardi said.

“Probably with what happened last night, (the umpires’) antennas are up.”

Talbot was ejected after hitting A-Rod, but the Yankees didn’t respond in kind.

Instead, they sent Cleveland to its 13th loss in 17 games and left the Indians barely clinging to first place in the AL Central for one more day.

Colon (5-3), famously traded in 2002 by the Indians for three minor leaguers who went on to become All-Stars, was working on a gem against his first big league team. He limped off in the top of the seventh after retiring Shin-Soo Choo covering first base.

The Yankees said Colon strained his left hamstring. He struck out six over 6 2-3 innings to win for the third straight start after two losses in his previous five.

The Yankees made it 3-0 in the seventh when Jorge Posada singled into the right field corner. Choo had trouble coming up with the ball and Nick Swisher came home.

The Indians got the tying run to the plate with nobody out in the eighth, but David Robertson struck out Michael Brantley, Asdrubal Cabrera and Grady Sizemore to end the threat.

Mark Teixeira homered off Vinnie Pestano in the eighth to make it 4-0.

A-Rod opened the scoring in the fourth inning with a line-drive shot into a strong wind blowing in from left field for only the second hit off Talbot (2-3). Granderson then hit his 20th homer of the season deep to right in the sixth.

Teixeira flied out before Talbot hit Rodriguez in the backside.

It was a homer by Granderson that preceded the benches-clearing incident the previous night, too.

Plate umpire Dan Iassogna immediately tossed Talbot after the righty hit Rodriguez. While A-Rod writhed on the ground, Talbot argued with Iassogna, and Cleveland manager Manny Acta came out, too. Talbot gestured to the mound, possibly suggesting that he slipped on the wet dirt.

Teixeira left Tuesday night’s game against Boston after getting on the right kneecap by a first-inning pitch from Jon Lester, and Red Sox ace Josh Beckett plunked three New York stars Thursday night: Jeter, Rodriguez and Granderson.

“I’m tired of it,” Girardi said. “Our guys get hit entirely too much. We’re a club that hits home runs and people don’t necessarily like that.”

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NEW YORK, June 11 (UPI) — Bartolo Colon tossed 6 2/3 shutout innings before leaving with an injury Saturday in the New York Yankees’ 4-0 whitewash of Cleveland.

Colon (5-3) was breezing through the Indians’ lineup, yielding only two hits and one walk while striking out six, before straining his left hamstring while covering first base on a groundout by Shin-Soo Choo.

David Robertson escaped a two-on, none-out jam in the eighth and Boone Logan tossed a scoreless ninth to complete the shutout, which sent the Yankees to their 12th win in 15 games over the Indians.

Curtis Granderson hit his 20th homer — tied with Toronto’s Jose Bautista for the American League lead — Mark Teixeira added his 19th and Alex Rodriguez also went deep in the Yankees’ win.

Mitch Talbot (2-3) absorbed the loss after allowing two runs on four hits over 5 2/3 frames.

The right-hander was ejected from the game after hitting Rodriguez with a pitch, bringing a vehement argument from Cleveland skipper Manny Acta. The manager argued Talbot had merely slipped on a rain-soaked mound while delivering the pitch.

The AL Central-leading Indians dropped their 13th game in 17 contests.

Updated Jun 11, 2011 6:05 PM ET

NEW YORK (AP)

On a busy afternoon in the Bronx, what may have been the event most consequential to the Yankees’ hopes this season came on a routine grounder.

Bartolo Colon, working on another strong start in a rebound season full of them, pulled up lame while covering first base. After the Yankees finished off their 4-0 win Saturday against the Cleveland Indians, Colon was at a hospital, getting an MRI on his strained left hamstring.

”It’s not what you want, that’s for sure,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. ”He’s pitched extremely well, and we’ll kind of keep our fingers crossed.”

Alex Rodriguez got hit by a pitch after he homered, and Curtis Granderson and Mark Teixeira also went deep.

Colon struck out six and gave up only two hits against his first major league team before he had to come out on Shin-Soo Choo’s grounder to first.

Colon (5-3), famously traded in 2002 by the Indians for three minor leaguers who went on to become All-Stars, struck out six over 6 2-3 innings to win for the third straight start after two losses in his previous five.

The Yankees, who have already lost starter Phil Hughes to a shoulder injury, will have to wait and hope for the best with Colon, who has been a key starter for them so far this season. He lowered his ERA to 3.10, best in the rotation.

”Bartolo is throwing like a legit No. 1 starter in the AL East,” Rodriguez said. ”A1A stuff.”

A-Rod was in the middle of the action on Saturday. He was hit by a pitch after he homered the previous time up, and shortly after Granderson hit his 20th of the season. The two sluggers both homered against Cleveland the night before.

”I don’t know if it was intentional, but it hurt like hell,” said Rodriguez, who said he was hit in the IT band between his hip and knee.

Plate umpire Dan Iassogna immediately tossed Mitch Talbot after the righty hit Rodriguez. While A-Rod writhed on the ground, Talbot argued with Iassogna, and Cleveland manager Manny Acta came out, too. Talbot gestured to the mound, and said he told Iassogna that he slipped while throwing the pitch.

”After the situation we had last night, and Alex hit a big home run last night and hit another home run today, and Curtis Granderson hit a home run last night and another one today, he threw the pitch directly at him,” Iassogna told a pool reporter.

Talbot thought it was a bit harsh.

”I’ve never been one to hit somebody because they got a home run or for doing their job. I don’t believe in that,” Talbot said. ”I thought it was a little ridiculous. Honestly … I got tossed because Texeira got hit yesterday. If you take that away and I hit A-Rod today, even after the home run I don’t think I get tossed.”

Acta was miffed, too.

”When is the right time to slip? With anybody else at the plate?” Acta said. ”I mean so anybody else would have gotten it and no problem. I felt that that was uncalled for.”

It was the sixth time a Yankees batter has been hit this homestand.

The Yankees sent Cleveland to its 13th loss in 17 games and left the Indians barely clinging to first place in the AL Central.

The Yankees made it 3-0 in the seventh when Jorge Posada singled into the right field corner. Choo had trouble coming up with the ball and Nick Swisher came home.

The Indians got the tying run to the plate with nobody out in the eighth, but David Robertson struck out Michael Brantley, Asdrubal Cabrera and Grady Sizemore to end the threat.

Teixeira homered off Vinnie Pestano in the eighth to make it 4-0.

A-Rod opened the scoring in the fourth inning with a line-drive shot into a strong wind blowing in from left field for only the second hit off Talbot (2-3). Granderson then hit his 20th homer of the season deep to right in the sixth.

Teixeira left Tuesday night’s game against Boston after getting hit on the right kneecap by a first-inning pitch from Jon Lester, and Red Sox ace Josh Beckett plunked three New York stars Thursday night: Jeter, Rodriguez and Granderson.

”I’m tired of it,” Girardi said. ”Our guys get hit entirely too much. We’re a club that hits home runs and people don’t necessarily like that.”

Girardi added: ”We’ll protect our own.”

NOTES: Granderson tied Toronto’s Jose Bautista for the AL lead in homers. Teixeira is one behind with 19. … Hughes threw off a bullpen mound at the Yankees’ complex in Tampa, Fla. He is scheduled to pitch Tuesday in a minor league camp game. … Brett Gardner got the Yankees’ first hit off Talbot with a bunt single in the third inning. He was thrown out at second on a pitchout, and Talbot caught him trying to steal third in the fifth. … In the second inning, the Yankees’ Robinson Cano hit a liner foul and it hit a police officer stationed in the photo well. He disappeared from view briefly, then reappeared to applause, and his fellow officer smacked him on the back as he triumphantly showed the ball. … The Indians received Sizemore, Cliff Lee and Brandon Phillips from Montreal in the 2002 deadline trade for Colon.

CBSSports.com wire reports
June 11, 2011

NEW YORK — On a busy afternoon in the Bronx, what may have been the event most consequential to the Yankees’ hopes this season came on a routine grounder.

Bartolo Colon, working on another strong start in a rebound season full of them, pulled up lame while covering first base. After the Yankees finished off their 4-0 win Saturday against the Cleveland Indians, Colon was at a hospital, getting an MRI on his strained left hamstring.

“It’s not what you want, that’s for sure,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “He’s pitched extremely well, and we’ll kind of keep our fingers crossed.”

Alex Rodriguez got hit by a pitch after he homered, and Curtis Granderson and Mark Teixeira also went deep.

Colon struck out six and gave up only two hits against his first major league team before he had to come out on Shin-Soo Choo’s grounder to first.

Colon (5-3), famously traded in 2002 by the Indians for three minor leaguers who went on to become All-Stars, struck out six over 6 2/3 innings to win for the third straight start after two losses in his previous five.

The Yankees, who have already lost starter Phil Hughes to a shoulder injury, will have to wait and hope for the best with Colon, who has been a key starter for them so far this season. He lowered his ERA to 3.10, best in the rotation.

“Bartolo is throwing like a legit No. 1 starter in the AL East,” Rodriguez said. “A1A stuff.”

A-Rod was in the middle of the action on Saturday. He was hit by a pitch after he homered the previous time up, and shortly after Granderson hit his 20th of the season. The two sluggers both homered against Cleveland the night before.

“I don’t know if it was intentional, but it hurt like hell,” said Rodriguez, who said he was hit in the IT band between his hip and knee.

Plate umpire Dan Iassogna immediately tossed Mitch Talbot after the righty hit Rodriguez. While A-Rod writhed on the ground, Talbot argued with Iassogna, and Cleveland manager Manny Acta came out, too. Talbot gestured to the mound, and said he told Iassogna that he slipped while throwing the pitch.

“After the situation we had last night, and Alex hit a big home run last night and hit another home run today, and Curtis Granderson hit a home run last night and another one today, he threw the pitch directly at him,” Iassogna told a pool reporter.

Talbot thought it was a bit harsh.

“I’ve never been one to hit somebody because they got a home run or for doing their job. I don’t believe in that,” Talbot said. “I thought it was a little ridiculous. Honestly … I got tossed because Texeira got hit yesterday. If you take that away and I hit A-Rod today, even after the home run I don’t think I get tossed.”

Acta was miffed, too.

“When is the right time to slip? With anybody else at the plate?” Acta said. “I mean so anybody else would have gotten it and no problem. I felt that that was uncalled for.”

It was the sixth time a Yankees batter has been hit this homestand.

The Yankees sent Cleveland to its 13th loss in 17 games and left the Indians barely clinging to first place in the AL Central.

The Yankees made it 3-0 in the seventh when Jorge Posada singled into the right field corner. Choo had trouble coming up with the ball and Nick Swisher came home.

The Indians got the tying run to the plate with nobody out in the eighth, but David Robertson struck out Michael Brantley, Asdrubal Cabrera and Grady Sizemore to end the threat.

Teixeira homered off Vinnie Pestano in the eighth to make it 4-0.

A-Rod opened the scoring in the fourth inning with a line-drive shot into a strong wind blowing in from left field for only the second hit off Talbot (2-3). Granderson then hit his 20th homer of the season deep to right in the sixth.

Teixeira left Tuesday night’s game against Boston after getting hit on the right kneecap by a first-inning pitch from Jon Lester, and Red Sox ace Josh Beckett plunked three New York stars Thursday night: Jeter, Rodriguez and Granderson.

“I’m tired of it,” Girardi said. “Our guys get hit entirely too much. We’re a club that hits home runs and people don’t necessarily like that.”

Girardi added: “We’ll protect our own.”

Notes

• Granderson tied Toronto’s Jose Bautista for the AL lead in homers. Teixeira is one behind with 19.
• Brett Gardner got the Yankees’ first hit off Talbot with a bunt single in the third inning. He was thrown out at second on a pitchout, and Talbot caught him trying to steal third in the fifth.
• In the second inning, the Yankees’ Robinson Cano hit a liner foul and it hit a police officer stationed in the photo well. He disappeared from view briefly, then reappeared to applause, and his fellow officer smacked him on the back as he triumphantly showed the ball.
• The Indians received Sizemore, Cliff Lee and Brandon Phillips from Montreal in the 2002 deadline trade for Colon.

NEW YORK – Cleveland starter Mitch Talbot has been ejected from the game against the New York Yankees after he hit Alex Rodriguez in the backside with a pitch.

Plate umpire Dan Iassogna immediately tossed Talbot after the righty hit Rodriguez with a fastball in the bottom of the sixth inning. The night before, the Indians and Yankees cleared the benches when Mark Teixeira was hit by a pitch and took exception to it.

Rodriguez hit a solo home run off Talbot in the fourth inning Saturday. Curtis Granderson went deep one batter before Talbot hit A-Rod.

While Rodriguez writhed on the ground, Talbot argued with Iassogna, and Cleveland manager Manny Acta came out, too. Talbot gestured to the mound, possibly suggesting that he slipped in the wet, misty conditions.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

NEW YORK (AP) — Cleveland Indians pitcher Fausto Carmona says he didn’t mean to hit Yankees slugger Mark Teixeira with a pitch.

Carmona said he was trying to regain control by pitching inside when his first pitch after giving up a home run drilled the Yankees’ slugger in the shoulder Friday night.

Teixeira, also plunked during the last series in which New York was swept in three games by Boston, took exception to Carmona’s pitch and the benches cleared.

Before Saturday afternoon’s game, Carmona said through bullpen catcher Francisco Morales that he meant to come up and in to Teixeira because he usually pitches the switch-hitter low and away.

Carmona threw 14 of his first 18 pitches for balls and walked three in a three-run first inning before giving up Granderson’s homer.

It was the lowest point of Mickey Mantle’s career.

Mantle and his good friend Tom Molito were in the Yankee Stadium locker room prior to the shooting of the classic video, The 500 Home Run Club. Mickey was feeling great, especially since sportscaster Bob Costas, whom

 Mantle trusted implicitly, would be hosting the video.

The conversation turned to some of Mantle’s most satisfying home runs. The two of them thought for a second or two, and Tom knew immediately that he had made a bad move the instant he blurted out,

“How about the two home runs you hit off Walker and Wilhelm to beat the Baltimore Orioles, 4-3 in 1960? I was at that game.”

Tom realized that there was too much baggage that went along with those two home runs that Mantle hit on Aug. 15, 1960, driving in all four New York Yankees runs to win a game the Yankees had to win.

Mantle’s mood changed, but only for a second. Tom could see his face projected regret, but it quickly was transformed into a look of vindication.

“The day before I hit those home runs was the low point of my career. Casey pulled me from the game after I hit into a double play. People think it was because I didn’t hustle running to first, but it was worse than that, if anything can be worse.”

It was at that moment that Mickey told Tom something that he had said before but that everyone seemed to ignore.

“I thought that there were two outs.”

What is worse, not hustling or not having your head in the game? Maybe its the same thing.

The Yankees had lost the first game of doubleheader to the Washington Senators and were tied 1-1 in the sixth inning of the night cap.

Mantle came to the plate with Hector Lopez on first and one out. He hit a sharp ground ball to third base. Reno Bertoia fielded it cleanly and fired to second to force Lopez.

Shortstop Jose Valdivielso made a good throw to first base that everyone in Yankee Stadium knew would be in vain until Mantle was called out.

Casey Stengel sent Bob Cerv in to replace Mantle in center field in the seventh inning. The Senators won 6-3 in 15 innings.