Aaron Judge chips tooth during Yankees' walk-off celebration

Brett Gardner did it all during the Yankees’ 6-5, extra-inning win over the Rays on Thursday night... including a little inci-dental work on the side.

After tripling in the ninth and scoring the tying run to keep the Yankees alive before ending the game in the 11th with a walk-off line drive homer into the right-field seats, Gardy might have also chipped the tooth of Aaron Judge during the celebration at home plate.

Gardner was mobbed by his teammates as he crossed the plate and Judge could be seen being hit by a helmet and reaching for his mouth before jogging off the field alone while the rest of the team still celebrated.

Judge looked a little upset and annoyed as he sought medical attention.

BE CAREFUL @TheJudge44! pic.twitter.com/ofS3EpMO1p

— Jimmy Traina (@JimmyTraina) July 28, 2017

No one, it seemed, was willing to take responsibility for the bopping helmet which ended up smashing Judge in the chin but, with mostly everyone at least six inches shorter than the big guy, it's no wonder it happened.

“It wasn’t my fault,” Gardner said following the victory. “I threw [the helmet] on the ground.

“He’s too big to get hurt by something like that,” the outfielder said. “I think he’ll be all right.”

After the game ended, team personnel could be seen on the field, presumably in search of the tooth fragment.

“We don’t know who hit him,” Clint Frazier said of the already gap-toothed Judge. “We’re trying to find somebody. But the tooth broke in half.”

Judge has managed to smile through a mini-slump since the All-Star game, but here's to hoping this accident doesn't change that attitude.

Rays' Logan Morrison angry about Yankees' Gary Sanchez being invited to Home Run Derby

Logan Morrison sounds a little peeved that two New York Yankees players will be jacking balls over the fence at next weeks' Home Run Derby during the All-Star Game festivities in Miami while the Tampa Bay Rays' first baseman might be sitting at home swatting flies.

Morrison, who is tied for third in the majors with 24 home runs, doesn’t think Gary Sanchez is deserving of a spot at next week’s Home Run Derby especially when the Yankees are already sending MLB's home run leader Aaron Judge.

“Gary shouldn’t be there,’’ Morrison told the Tampa Bay Times. “Gary’s a great player, but he shouldn’t be in the Home Run Derby. I remember when I had 14 home runs,’’ Morrison said. “That was a month and a half ago.’’

Sanchez does have a less than spectacular 13 homers this year, but remember the Yankees catcher spent a month on the disabled list.

Morrison, however, wasn’t suggesting that he should take Sanchez’s spot.

“It’s not even about that,” he said. “(Royals third baseman Mike) Moustakas should be there.

“I’m not disappointed. It’s par for the course. I play for the Rays. I get it. They can’t even get my picture right. When they put my name up there, they put Corey (Dickerson’s) picture up there ... on MLB Network.’’

It is somewhat unfair that the Yankees did get two players competing in the contest although Morrison would even have to admit that Sanchez is a real bomber. The Yankee slugger averages a true home-run distance of 420.9 feet — second only to Blue Jays' Kendrys Morales and even further than the powerful Judge.

So while Morrison does have a valid argument, it's time for him to put on his big boy pants and worry about making the AL All-Star squad via the Final Vote.

That is, of course, if they get his name right.

Tyler Austin and Aaron Judge hit historic back-to-back homers in Yankees debut (VIDEO)

A-Rod who?

Alex Rodriguez's tears hadn't even dried on the infield of Yankee Stadium when the Bombers' two newest members started a fresh era of power with historic back-to-back home runs Saturday afternoon in the Bronx.

Aaron Judge and Tyler Austin showed fans that the future looks bright for the Yankees — and put the drama of the controversial slugger firmly in the rear view mirror after hitting the dingers in both players' first at-bats.

Just a day ago Judge and Austin were taking swings as top prospects with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and now, less than 14 hours after A-Rod's going away party, the two new outfielders helped the Yankees win their fourth straight game with an 8-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.

Welcome to The Show boys.

The behemoth Judge (he's 6'7" and 230 lbs.) blasted this 446-foot shot over the center field wall and was still able to get the ball back.

Aaron Judge's first career homer was an absolute bomb. He too got the baseball back #HereComesTheJudge pic.twitter.com/y2N5SDv90E

— Bronx Bombers (@BronxBomberBlog) August 13, 2016

Here's Austin's jack which got things started:

Tyler Austin's first career homer in his first career at-bat. He got the baseball back! #AustinPowers pic.twitter.com/lNb9kugCFb

— Bronx Bombers (@BronxBomberBlog) August 13, 2016

Suddenly that $27 million tab the Yankees owe Rodriguez doesn't seem to hurt as much.

Jacoby Ellsbury's straight steal of home leads Yankees to win

Jacoby Ellsbury wasn't supposed to start the game Friday night against the Rays and, to many Yankees fans, if the slumping $153 million man never sauntered to centerfield ever again it might be too soon.

But on a rainy night in the Bronx when he began the game on the bench with the Yankees facing another lefty starter, Ellsbury showed what the Bombers paid him for in a 6-3 win over the Rays.

After replacing Aaron Hicks, who injured himself diving for a ball in the fourth inning in center, Ellsbury didn’t take long to make his presence felt — thanks to a straight steal of home in the bottom of the fifth that tied the game.

“I knew if I took off, I’d make it,” said Ellsbury, who shocked nearly everyone by going despite a 3-2 count and two outs.

Brett Gardner took the pitch and Ellsbury slid under the tag.

“It was a surprise, but it worked out for the best,” said Gardner, who took the pitch and didn’t have to risk an Ellsbury injury  by swinging. “Thank goodness the ball wasn’t close to the zone.”

And the last time Ellsbury pulled off what is probably the most exciting play in baseball?  2009 against Andy Pettitte of the Yankees:

Kevin Kiermaier's home run-robbing catch at Camden Yards was 'Trout-like' (VIDEO)

During the Rays' 6-3 win over the Orioles at Camden Yards on Monday, Rays centerfielder Kevin Kiermaier showed once again why he is quickly becoming one of the best defensive outfielders in Major League Baseball.

Kiermaier chased down a first-inning Manny Machado fly ball to deep right-center and made a leaping catch that was well ... "Trout-like."

The catch helped Tampa Bay move to within 3 1/2 games of Texas for the second Wild Card spot. And you know Kiermaier's pitcher, Chris Archer, appreciated the leaping grab, even if he didn't show it.

Kiermaier was later forced to leave the game with a mild ankle strain but the comparisons to Mike Trout's spectacular catch at the Camden Yards fence in 2012 stayed on everyone's mind.

You make the comparison:

Kevin Kiermaier left hanging on curious home run at Tropicana Field (VIDEO)

Kevin Kiermaier was left in a precarious position after climbing the wall during Kendrys Morales' curious home run that bounced off Tropicana Field's catwalk Friday night.

The Rays player has been one of the best defensive outfielders in Major League Baseball this season, but even Kiermaier couldn't anticipate — or figure out — what happened on this play.

After Morales connected in the top of the third inning, Kiermaier ran back and scaled the center-field fence, appearing to get in position to try a home-run-preventing catch. 

But the ball never came. With Kiermaier hanging onto the fence with his hands — and then his right foot — the ball struck a catwalk and dropped to the ground perhaps 20 feet in front of the fence. It was ruled a double at the moment by umpires, but after a huddle they determined it was a home run. 

At least Kiermaier got to stretch out that right hammy.

Kevin Kiermaier and Daniel Nava take chest bump to extreme on fly ball in outfield (VIDEO)

Daniel Nava seemed really excited when Rays teammate Kevin Kiermaier caught this fly ball during Wednesday night's game against the Twins. So stoked you might say, that Nava gave his fellow outfielder a premature chest bump congratulation even before Kiermaier hauled in the ball.

Both players came up laughing after the accidental collision and then resorted to a more traditional high-five to celebrate the inning-ending catch.

Jimbo Fisher throws first pitch to Jameis Winston at Rays game (VIDEO)

The Tampa Bay Rays hosted the Baltimore Orioles at home on Sunday, but if you're a fan of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, you finally got to see your team's first-round pick Jameis Winston in action.

Albeit, on the baseball diamond.

And although Winston didn't throw anything, he did team up with his former coach at Florida State, Jimbo Fisher, as battery mates for the first pitch.

Here's video of first pitch at Rays game from FSU coach Jimbo Fisher to Bucs rookie Jameis Winston. pic.twitter.com/c5gSpnDZ3m

— Greg Auman (@gregauman) July 26, 2015

Save that arm for the NFL Jameis.

Yankees and Mets expected to battle it out for Ben Zobrist: Report

It's highly unlikely the Yankees and Mets will be battling it out against each other in a World Series anytime soon but, if either team can land Ben Zobrist before the MLB trade deadline, one of the two New York teams believes they will have strengthened their chances for the playing long into the fall.

Zobrist, one of the most underrated players in Major League Baseball, was acquired by the Oakland A's in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays prior to the season. However, with Zobrist eligible for free agency after the season and the A's now in last place in their division, Zobrist is expected to be one player who is available for the right price.

And the word is that the Mets, along with their cross-town Yankees, are interested in acquiring Zobrist — making it one of those rare occasion when the two Subway Series rivals are vying for the same player.

The Mets have already talked to the A's about trading for Zobrist, according to the New York Daily News. And even upped the ante when it was reported that Mets general manager Sandy Alderson is willing to "overpay" for the utility player to help boost the team's offense. The Nationals and Giants are in play for him.

However, at the time of the report (July 3) Zobrist had reportedly been taken off the market as the A's got hot and won 12 of 18 games. That likely changed quickly as the A's then lost five of their next seven games and now sit 8.5 games back in their division with the worst record in the American League.

Zobrist is one of the best utility players in the game — one of those types of players who become more important during late-season playoff runs. And besides his versatility in the field, he can hit. Since the start of the 2009 season, only two players in all MLB have been worth more Wins Above Replacement (WAR) than Zobrist.

Nelson Cruz's home run lands in Tampa Bay's "Touch Tank' (VIDEO)

In the top of the ninth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays, Nelson Cruz launched a three-run home run into Tropicana Field's 10,000-gallon "Touch Tank," the home to a group of minding-their own-business, cownose rays.

While the Seattle Mariners slugger's 18th homer might have interrupted the rays' peaceful moment away from all of the groping fans, it also gave the his team a 3-0 victory.

It's rare that a ball makes its way into the tank, so the floater also gave the Trop's staff something to do with their nets.  

How to ruin a pitcher's duel – and a ray's day: http://t.co/QfybZITgt4 #GoYard pic.twitter.com/ZYU6tXltWB

— MLB (@MLB) May 27, 2015

Rays minor-league team cancels ‘A-Rod Juice Box Night’

The Port Charlotte Stone Crabs, Tampa Bay's Class A affiliate, had intended to give the first 500 fans a free juice box as a subtle jab at Alex Rodriguez before Friday night’s game. But, after the Yankees complained about the “A-Rod Juice Box Night” promotion, saying they found it "in poor taste," the Florida team cancelled the free giveaway.

In a photo illustration on the team's Twitter and Facebook pages, a woman is drinking from a juice box with this label (containing the wrong spelling of effects):

The Sports Drink
100 % Juiced
Side Affects include: tainted records, inflated ego, omission from the Hall of Fame, and more!

The Yankees contacted the MLB commissioner's office and the Florida State League after consulting with the Rays, who notified them of the promotion, according to TampaBay.com — even after the controversy of his return to baseball from a year-long suspension seems to be wearing off.

The team web site said the first 500 fans would get a free juice box (which they can drink or donate to the Charlotte County Homeless Coalition) and any fans bringing A-Rod T-shirts, hats or other merchandise to be donated to the Salvation Army can get a free ticket.

The Stone Crabs later apologized:

"On behalf of our entire organization I apologize to the New York Yankees, our affiliate club the Tampa Bay Rays, and all fans who may have taken offense," said Stone Crabs General Manager, Jared Forma.  "While our intent was to raise awareness for the Charlotte County Homeless Coalition and the Salvation Army, we realize this promotion may have been offensive to many and for that we are sorry and have decided to cancel the promotion.  The Stone Crabs organization has the utmost respect for the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays organizations and wishes both organizations only the best in the future."

The Charlotte Sports Park had a mixed bag of other promotions set up for the 6:30 p.m. game as well. The team was also offering a free beer special ($15, all you can drink from when gates open at 5 until end of the first inning) and it's All-Star Kids Club Night!

Rodriguez, who would be in New York while the Yankees played the Texas Rangers had no comment.

The Stone Crabs team is owned by Ripken Baseball, and operated independently of the Rays front office.

Derek Jeter can't find baseball team to buy: Report

Pity poor Derek Jeter. And I don't mean poor in a financial sense. Or any sense, come to think of it.

The retired former Yankees shortstop has a sizable amount of cash at his disposal (net worth $185 million) with plenty of investors more than willing to throw money at the thought of partnering with the MLB legend. But sadly for The Captain, he reportedly still isn’t having any luck when it comes to buying his own Major League Baseball team.

“There are no teams available,” says Fox Business Network’s Charlie Gasparino. “Jeter is telling people he is modeling his post-baseball career after Michael Jordan’s,” a reference to his NBA counterpart's purchase of the Charlotte Hornets.

In the meantime, Jeter has been meeting with Goldman Sachs bankers hoping to follow in the steps of his former boss and mentor, the late George Steinbrenner.

“As he’s waiting for a potential team to open up, he’s putting a lot of time into this Web site, theplayerstribune.com . . . He’s looking for financing for this as well as to expand,” Gasparino said.

With the average MLB team price hovering around $811 million (High end: Yankees worth $2.5 billion, bargain basement: Tampa Bay Rays at $485 million), Jeets might have to spend more time cuddling with his girl, Hannah Davis, than huddling with lawyers.

Earlier this month, the ex-Yankee was spotted getting a tour of Marlins Park, fueling speculation he was interested in the team, but has denied it.

Contrary to what Jeter says publicly, rumors still swirl that the one-time Face of Baseball does want to become the head of a MLB team.

Rays fan makes sweet no-look catch on Wil Myers' liner (VIDEO)

Catching a foul ball off the bat of major league player is no easy feat. Now try doing it with your eyes closed and the prized souvenir coming towards you at 120 mph.

This Rays fan makes a great no-look catch down the third-base line on a foul ball off the bat of Wil Myers Friday night — even with another fan in front of him diving for the same ball.

Yeah. I planned that.

Derek Jeter love-fest almost turns into all-out brawl (VIDEO)

The night started out nice enough with Derek Jeter adding a few more gifts from the Tampa Bay Rays to his Farewell Tour collection. Before the game, the organization gave him a $16,000 donation to his Turn2 foundation, a Don Zimmer jersey, and a pinstriped kayak.

Then in the eighth inning, Rays pitcher Steven Geltz chipped in with a fastball to Jeter's elbow.

Jeter took it in stride, but umpire Rob Drake decided to warn both sides — bringing both managers out to argue. That's when frustrated Joe Girardi went a little overboard and got tossed. 

Then, in the bottom half of the same inning, Yankees reliever David Phelps decided to give Jeter a little present of his own by throwing a brushback pitch at Kevin Kiermaier. That obligatory gift caused both benches to clear.

No punches were thrown, but words were exchanged before Phelps and Yankees bench coach Tony Peña Sr. were ejected.

After the game, Rays manager Joe Maddon didn't fault Girardi.

"Understand the Yankees frustration, but there was no intent. It's baseball," he tweeted.

Understand the Yankees frustration, but there was no intent. It’s baseball.
— Joe Maddon (@RaysJoeMaddon) September 17, 2014

No. It's Derek Jeter's last few weeks of playing baseball.

Jeter has hard time saying something nice about Tropicana Field (VIDEO)

Derek Jeter met the press Monday — before playing his final series against the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg — and got a little tongue-tied when trying to come up with a reason he might miss playing at Tropicana Field.

  

A reporter asked the Yankees shortstop, "Is there anything you're going to miss about playing here in the Trop?"

After a pause, Jeter smiled politely and worked hard at finding fondness for the often criticized domed stadium where a lot of players don't like to play.

"Uh. What am I going to miss about playing here? They made some great, you know, this stadium, when I first came up, it was the old artificial turf and I think it's gotten better as the years have gone on and I think the amenities for the fans have gotten better," he stammered. "So I think it continues to improve.

"I'll miss getting an extra eight, nine, 10 days getting home during the course of the season. But I'll have a lot of days at home now. So let me get back to you about that."

At least he had nice things to say about the Rays franchise, the organization's focus on the fans and the extra days he gets to spend at his nearby mansion in Tampa.

As for the Trop? Not so much.

Chris Young breaks up no-hitter in 8th, hits walk-off home run for Yankees (VIDEO)

Maybe there is a little magic left in the Yankees playoff push this season. And last night it came from one of the newest jigsaw pieces filling in the Bomber's lineup puzzle.

If the Yankees somehow make it to the playoffs, the team might want to look back at Chris Young's game at Yankee Stadium Thursday night and say thanks for the spark.

The former Mets outfielder — who was the scapegoat for everything that's wrong at Citi Field this season — broke up Alex Cobb's no-hitter with a one-out double in the eighth inning and then hit a thrilling walk-off three-run homer in the ninth to give the Yankees a 5-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.

And it set off cheers that haven't been heard in the Bronx for a while.



Losing last night was have been another stumble in the Yankees playoff march but a no-hitter would have been a tumble down a cliff to a postseason void.

Young said it felt as if he were "floating on a cloud" upon seeing the ball clear the fence and hearing the fans cheer for him. 

"I don't even remember running around the bases," he said. "All I really remember was hitting the ball and being at home plate. I don't remember the rest. I don't even know if I was fully there."

Dustin Pedroia leaves game after taking elbow to head (VIDEO)

In the second inning of Saturday night's Red Sox-Rays game, Boston second baseman Dustin Pedroia took a Logan Forsythe elbow to the head on a tag play.

Pedroia had to leave the game as a precaution.

At first, considering the Rays-Sox recent skirmishes, it looks like Forsythe was swinging his arm intentionally towards Pedroia's head:

But calmer heads prevailed and, as you can see from another angle, Forsythe was only moving his arm to avoid the tag:

Forsythe claimed the contact was not intentional.

''The only move that I made was to try to swim-move the tag to get out of the way,'' he said.

Red Sox manager John Farrell said Pedroia was dizzy after the play but improved later.

Jose Molina almost got lapped by teammate during home run trot (VIDEO)

Jose Molina has never been known for his fleet of foot, but this slow strut around the bases could be confused with a leisurely stroll around the park — literally.

During the fourth-inning of Wednesday's Rays-Athletics game, Kevin Kiermaier hit a two-run shot that put Tampa Bay in the lead 3-0. But he had to put the brakes on his home run trot when he almost lapped the chugging Molina before reaching third base.

A smiling Kiermaier was finally able to turn on the burners after the winded catcher touched home plate.

Did Red Sox fan possibly rob David Ortiz of a home run? (VIDEO)

At Saturday's Red Sox-Rays game, a Boston-rooting fan at Tropicana Field potentially took away a home run off the bat of slugger David Ortiz.

Ortiz thought it was out of the old park, but the Sox fan's sno-cone catch seemed to give the ball a little assist over the wall.

So after the umpire review, Big Papi got a double via fan interference instead of a dinger.

Best part was the fan's reaction to the umpire's ruling and attempt to sway the call.

Rays' Joel Peralta may have the mosquito borne virus chikungunya: Report

Tampa Bays relief pitcher Joel Peralta says he's been feeling sick since he went home to the Dominican Republic during the All-Star break and thinks he has been stricken with chikungunya — the mosquito-borne virus spreading over Florida and the Caribbean.

Peralta began feeling sick on Friday after visiting the Dominican Republic where chikungunya is extremely prevalent, reported CBS.

A Rays spokesperson says that Peralta does have flu like symptoms but that he is still undergoing testing to see if it really is the debilitating ailment.

While the virus isn't deadly it can be extremely uncomfortable and causes arthritis-like symptoms such as joint pain that lasts for weeks.

So far in Florida there have been 82 reported cases of chikungunya, according to WTSP.

"To prevent chikungunya, it is vital that Floridians and visitors continue to avoid mosquito bites," said Dr. Jennifer Bencie, DOH-Manatee Administrator.

The Rays hasn't yet announced whether or not Peralta needs to be put on the disabled list or not yet.

It's a good thing Tropicana Field is a domed stadium.