Yankees earn crucial victory over Chen, O's

NEW YORK — When the calendar turned to September, the first-place New York Yankees suddenly played a little more like, well, the first-place Yankees.

Too close for comfort: Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter attempts to avoid being hit by a pitch against the Orioles on Saturday in New York. The Yankees won 4-3. AP

Derek Jeter worked out a tying walk, then sure-handed shortstop J.J. Hardy's bases-loaded error let the Yankees complete a seventh-inning comeback Saturday for a 4-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles.

Ichiro Suzuki was 0-for-2 with a walk in the win.

The struggling Yankees scored three times in the seventh and restored their three-game lead in the AL East over Baltimore. The streaking Orioles had won 13 straight one-run decisions.

"You don't look at the standings," Jeter said. "If we play well, we'll be fine."

As to whether his team's past history of playing important games was any factor, the Yankees' captain demurred.

"If you win, they say experience helps," Jeter said. "If you lose, they say you don't have enough youth."

The Yankees won for only the fourth time in 11 games, but lost another power bat when Curtis Granderson left after two innings because of tightness in his right hamstring. He was taken to the hospital for a precautionary MRI, which showed nothing major.

Manager Joe Girardi doesn't think Granderson will be sidelined along with injured sluggers Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira. He will check with his center fielder Sunday before making out his lineup.

Shut down all afternoon, the Yankees took advantage of what Baltimore gave them. Neither team did a lot with the bats — each side got just four hits.

Baltimore starting pitcher Chen Wei-yin mixed speeds right away, showing Swisher a 109-kph curve in the first inning and following with a 148-kph fastball.

Chen was charged with the loss after allowing four runs — three earned — on four hits over 6? innings.

Angels 5, Mariners 2

In Seattle, Mark Trumbo hit a two-run single in the eighth inning that helped hand Felix Hernandez his first loss in nearly three months.

Rays 5, Blue Jays 4

In Toronto, Matt Joyce homered and had three RBIs and Ryan Roberts also connected.

Twins 3, Royals 1 (1st)

Twins 8, Royals 7 (2nd)

In Kansas City, Joe Mauer hit a grand slam and Chris Parmelee added a three-run shot, and Minnesota outlasted the Royals to complete a sweep of a doubleheader.

Justin Morneau drove in two runs and Twins rookie Cole De Vries beat the Royals 3-1 in the first game.

Mauer's grand slam in the second inning of the nightcap was the third of his career and the first by the Twins this year. Mauer's ninth home run came after Pedro Florimon's double was sandwiched around walks to Drew Butera and Ben Revere.

Tigers 5, White Sox 1

In Detroit, Max Scherzer allowed four hits in eight scoreless innings, and the Tigers pulled within a game of first place with a victory over the White Sox.

Indians 4, Rangers 3

In Cleveland, Jeanmar Gomez and three Indians relievers combined to beat the Rangers.

Athletics 7, Red Sox 1

In Oakland, Coco Crisp hit a leadoff home run and finished a triple shy of the cycle to back A.J. Griffin's gem, and the A's beat Boston for their season-high eighth straight win.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Cardinals 10, Nationals 9

In Washington, David Freese homered, drove in three runs and had a go-ahead single in the ninth.

Giants 5, Cubs 2

In Chicago, Tim Lincecum pitched four-hit ball into the seventh inning and Xavier Nady had a three-run double.

Phillies 5, Braves 1

In Atlanta, Cliff Lee took advantage of some rare run support, throwing seven scoreless innings to lead the Phillies past the slumping Braves.

Brewers 3, Pirates 2

In Milwaukee, Corey Hart homered to lead off the ninth inning.

Milwaukee's Norichika Aoki entered the game as a pinch hitter and was 1-for-1.

Mets 5, Marlins 3

In Miami, Kelly Shoppach hit a go-ahead two-run single with two outs in the ninth inning that cleared the bases when center fielder Justin Ruggiano misplayed the ball, lifting the Mets to a victory over the Marlins.

Astros 2, Reds 1

In Houston, Cincinnati second baseman Wilson Valdez's error on a routine grounder by Jose Altuve with two outs in the ninth inning lifted the Astros to a win over the Reds.

Dodgers 2, Diamondbacks 1

In Los Angeles, Josh Beckett pitched 6? strong innings for his first victory since being traded to the Dodgers, and Andre Ethier hit a tie-breaking home run in the sixth inning.

Rockies 9, Padres 1

In Denver, Jhoulys Chacin pitched seven strong innings, and Dexter Fowler hit his first career grand slam.

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United, City brace for crucial derby

MANCHESTER, England — The defining plot twist of the most enthralling title race in years could be written on Monday as Manchester City attempts to seize control of its Premier League destiny against leader Manchester United.

Time is now: Wayne Rooney will attempt to help United beat City for Premier League supremacy. AP

Three weeks ago, United already had one hand on a record 20th title after City's defeat at Arsenal left Alex Ferguson's team a hefty eight points clear with only six games remaining.

But a poor run of results from United, which has taken only four points from a possible nine, has suddenly given City the chance to move into first place.

An estimated worldwide television audience of more than 650 million is expected to tune in for a match being hyped as the biggest in Premier League history.

"This is the derby game of all derby games," Ferguson said. "It's in the blood of the supporters and I know lots of fans who would give everything to win this game."

City midfielder Gareth Barry also emphasized the unique nature of the top-of-the-table duel.

"People are speaking of this as being the biggest game in Premier League history and it's a massive game to play in," Barry said.

"I don't think you can get away from the size of the game against United and the pressure."

The equation for City is simple: a victory would see it return to the top of the table.

Wins at Newcastle and at home to Queens Park Rangers would then guarantee City the title, provided United is unable to make up its rivals' significant advantage in goal difference, which currently stands at plus six.

City manager Roberto Mancini has attempted to douse the expectation level by stating that United will remain favorites for the title even if it loses, citing the champions' final two matches against Swansea and Sunderland.

"I think they have more chance than us because we play the derby on Monday, after we play against Newcastle, that will be a very tough game," Mancini said.

Ferguson meanwhile is relishing the challenge from opponents he views as the biggest threat to United's position at the summit of the English game owing to the club's seemingly limitless wealth.

City, which humiliated United 6-1 at Old Trafford in October, has rattled in 12 goals in its past three games, and its nimble strikeforce of Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez will fancy their chances of adding to that haul if Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans have another off-day.

Of all the storylines to emerge from this year's Premier League page-turner, it is the re-emergence of Tevez that is potentially the most compelling.

Ostracized by Mancini after his infamous refusal to warm up during the Champions League defeat at Bayern Munich in September, the former United striker then disappeared to Argentina for three months.

Tevez has responded to his recall by delivering goals, adding an injection of verve to a City forward line that had been struggling to reproduce its scintillating early season form.

Tevez, who is expected to seek a move this summer, will be putting his talents on show to a mammoth worldwide audience, with a record 16 broadcasters airing the match live.

"The interest in this game from around the world is unprecedented," a City spokesman said.

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Terry's influence crucial for Chelsea

LONDON — Maybe it was Roman Abramovich's instruction to the players to improve.

One glance at the Chelsea owner's Wikipedia page would no doubt encourage anyone to shift up a gear when told.

Perhaps it was the dismissal of Andre Villas-Boas, who paid the price for trying to move on the old guard. Or the increasingly successful interim appointment of former West Bromwich discard Roberto di Matteo, who has registered three consecutive wins.

Whatever inspired Chelsea to a storming 4-1 extra-time win over Napoli on Wednesday worked. Led by John Terry, as inspirational as he is controversial, with Didier Drogba turning back the years and Frank Lampard proving he is still the man for the big occasion, Chelsea was terrific.

Its pulsating performance left us wondering why things had stagnated so badly under AVB, though the attitude of the players must also be called the question. Once a team crosses the white line it should be motivated enough regardless of who the manager is, but this clearly didn't apply with Chelsea.

Terry had denied player-power was behind AVB's departure — as if he was going to say "yes, we got rid of him" — but Chelsea's players displayed irresistible power against an enterprising Napoli team that was eventually blown away by the rampaging Blues on a night to remember.

This was a huge result and a brilliant display by a side where Terry is clearly more than a captain. It is difficult to recall a more influential player than Terry.

Whether that is a good thing many will doubt, but even the defender's critics — effectively just about everyone who doesn't support Chelsea — would have to admit that while his off-field behavior leaves much to be desired, he is Mr. Chelsea.

As Abramovich walked across the pitch after the match he indulged in high-fives before giving a more positive speech to the players.

"What he said stays in the dressing room," said di Matteo earning maximum diplomacy points. "But I guess Roman was happy because we won."

Realistically Chelsea will not win the Champions League, but it proved there is life in the old guard yet. But the best penny spent would be on the thoughts of AVB.

Having secured its place in the last eight of the Champions League, Chelsea turns its attention to the F.A. Cup sixth round, which offers some intriguing possibilities even though the absence of Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal may have taken some gloss off the quarterfinals for the power brokers of sponsorship and television.

It could be Tottenham vs. Chelsea or Everton vs. Liverpool in the final. The bad news is that the 2012 final may also see Leicester City play Bolton Wanderers, not a matchup Budweiser had in mind when it signed its lucrative deal to have its name on the tournament.

Leicester, the lone survivor from the Championship, has never won the F.A. Cup and is a dangerous underdog, but it is difficult to see it ending the interest of Chelsea, which will be oozing confidence after its midweek triumph. Verdict: Chelsea.

Everton manager David Moyes would love to celebrate 10 years in charge of the Toffees with his first major managerial honor, though whoever writes Martin O'Neill's scripts would no doubt have ended the season with Sunderland winning the cup. Verdict: draw.

If Spurs reach Wembley, it would be a grand finale for Harry Redknapp should England call. Bolton may complete an ignominious cup/relegation double. Verdict: Spurs win.

Liverpool, underachieving in the league, is on course to win the domestic cup double but Stoke, beaten finalists a year ago, is in with a chance to make up for its disappointment in 2011. Verdict: Liverpool.

* * *

SIR DAVE RICHARDS, chairman of the Premier League, is known as the silent knight, happy to leave everyone else to speak to the media. Despite his ?291,000 salary, the man who rose without a trace stayed in the shadows.

This week, it became easy to understand why Richards was English football's Marcel Marceau, and rather than be critical of this, we should be grateful. Richards was in Doha for a Sports Security conference and decided to give Qatar some advice ahead of the 2022 World Cup.

One can only assume no Premier League spin doctor was around because Richards showed the subtlety of a charging rhino. Oh, and he also fell into a pool.

Richards said: "In our country and in Germany we have a culture. We call it 'we would like to go for a pint and that pint is a pint of beer.' "

At this point the assembled gathering must have been thinking it was a Sir Dave Richards lookalike, but the real thing continued: "It is our culture as much as your culture [in Qatar] is not drinking. There has to be a happy medium."

And then this gem. "If you don't do something about it, you are burying your head in the sand."

Qatar . . . sand . . . desert. No he wasn't joking and to complete displaying the PR skills honed at the George W. Bush academy, he ended his rant with: "You might be better off saying don't come."

Next in his sights was FIFA and UEFA which he accused of "stealing football," blissfully unaware that the Premier League stole 22 clubs from the Football League 20 years ago.

Ladies and gentlemen, let's hear it for Sir Dave Richards.

Silence.

While urging another country to relax its attitude toward alcohol, Richards himself was not dry for long. Having put his foot in it as he spoke, while walking to the official dinner he inadvertently tumbled into a small water channel by a fountain — "only knee deep" claimed an eye witness with a tinge of regret.

Christopher Davies was a longtime Premier League correspondent for the London Daily Telegraph.

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