Results tagged “jamesblake”

• Mets 8 Rockies 3: Pat Misch earned his first career win thanks to seven strong innings of pitching. Mitsch allowed two homers, but settled down, avoiding becoming the first player in the Majors to lose his first 13 starts. Mets rookie catcher Josh Thole got his first career start and his first hit, eventually going 2-5 with a single and double. David Wright and Angel Pagan both had two RBI and Daniel Murphy cleaned up with a homer, double and two RBI's.

Whoa! James Blake beat number 1-ranked Roger Federer in straight sets during their Olympics tennis match today. The Yonkers native, currently ranked #7 in the world, won 6-4, 7-6 (2) during a quarterfinals match.

It took almost 49 weeks, but the Mets got their ace back Monday. Pedro returned to the mound and while the radar gun readings weren’t pretty, he got the job done. Five innings, two runs and four strikeouts later and Pedro showed that he will contribute in 2007. It’s still a long way until October, but Pedro probably has five more tune-ups before the real games start and rhe Mets and their fans have to feel better about their chances.

The Mets don't get a reprieve as they travel to Atlanta for a weekend series. In the span of four days, they managed to let the Phillies right back in the division race. September doesn't look as fun as it did on Sunday.

The best part about the end of summer? Maybe that's the U.S. Open, which starts Monday in Flushing. The tennis season's final Grand Slam provides the players with a grueling test to cap what feels like a condensed hard-court season.

He didn't shine as brightly as he has in other matches, but Roger Federer took care of James Blake in four sets Thursday. The world No. 1 and two-time defending champ sprayed his forehand on big shots, but he held off Blake and the crowd. His tennis hasn't shined during the fortnight, but with his nemesis Rafael Nadal out of the draw, it's easily Federer's tournament to lose. As for Blake, he still doesn't have a big win in his career, and if Federer played his best, the match would have ended in straight sets.

With the US Open heading to its climactic weekend, there have been some fun articles about the ball boys and girls at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Take the NY Times' US Open blog post about "Ballbabes": Male spectators seem to love some of the ladies wearing the Ralph Lauren designed outfits (sleeveless and short, while the ball boys get less revealing polo shirts and shorts) and boo when their favorites get rotated off the court. The Staten Island Advance chatted wtih four Island ball boys and girls, including Ronald Butts who has been a ball person for 18 years:

The New Brighton resident was working behind the baseline at the nationally televised 1996 men's single quarterfinal between Alex Corretja and a flu-ridden Pete Sampras.

Continue reading "By the Balls"

- Yankees 8, Twins 1: Doing well against a potential first round opponent is never a bad thing. Unfortunately for the Yankees, they weren't facing one of the Twins' aces yesterday. Fortunately, it looks like Alex Rodriguez might be coming out of his slump. A-Rod got the Yankees off to a good start with a solo home run in the 2nd inning and later added another solo shot in the 7th. There was even a bases-loaded single in a four-run Yankee fifth inning. It was the 2nd game in a row that Rodriguez had a home run and the first time since July 1st and 2nd, good enough to earn him a curtain call. Corey Lidle pitched six shutout innings for his 3rd win as a Yankee.

The match highlights the unique stage that is a US Open night match. Rowdy New York fans cheer faults, boo line calls and do the wave to show their appreciation. With two Americans on court last night, the crowd held little back. Even tennis purists had to admit the atmosphere added something to the match that, until the fifth set, was carried by its drama instead of its shotmaking. Agassi advances to an all-US semifinal on Saturday against Robby Ginepry, and the thought of his playing Roger Federer (who plays in the quarterfinals today) in the final on Sunday has CBS executives salivating.

- Bob Denver passed away at age 70; Gothamist spent so many hours of our youth watching Gilligan's Island on Channel 5 that we really feel like we've lost a bumbling friend who looked great in the color red

In this era of tennis that does not see American men or women dominate the sport, the United States Open has struggled to maintain its appeal to American sports fans. The casual observer, whose fandom has made the US Open's popularity soar, has paid attention n the past because Americans have been winning. They don't appreciate the genius of Roger Federer or the deceiving power of Justine Henin-Hardenne. No longer can the USTA rely on the likes of the now-retired Pete Sampras and the aging Andre Agassi to make a run at the Open title each year to keep these fans attached.