Jose Veras has had a rough couple of weeks.Unable to throw strikes and keep the opposition from scoring, Veras had lost the confidence of Joe Girardi and had been relegated to mop-up duty.
But when called upon Wednesday in a big spot, Veras delivered a dominating performance, striking out four and allowing just one walk in 3-1/3 innings before Melky Cabrera's two-run homer lifted the Yankees to a 9-7, 14-inning victory over the A's at Yankee Stadium.
Veras, after solid outings in his first two appearances, had walked at least one batter in each of his next five appearances and allowed six runs as his ERA ballooned to 8.53 entering Wednesday.
And when Girardi summoned Veras to get the last out of the 11th, it looked like Veras hadn't quite worked out his problems. He walked Jason Giambi after getting ahead 1-and-2. He fell behind Matt Holliday, and when he got Holliday to fly out to right, every Yankee fan had to be praying the offense would somehow push across the a run and end it right there.
Of course the bats had gone cold and the game continued. Girardi sent Veras back out there for the 12th, and suddenly something clicked. Veras became the strike-throwing machine that was dominant for stretches last season. He set down the side in order in the 12th ... and the 13th.
Girardi elected to gamble with Veras for one more inning in the 14th rather than give the ball to rookie Steven Jackson, who would be making his debut. Veras didn't disappoint. Another 1-2-3 to set the stage for Melky's heroics.
The Yankees entered the season expecting big things from Veras, whom they were counting on to be the seventh-inning guy. When he struggled, the bullpen became questionable, though Phil Coke and Jonathan Albaladejo have started to show they are capable of getting big outs in the sixth and seventh.
Mariano Rivera is the anchor of the Yankees' bullpen, but Veras is its key. The Yankees need Veras to pitch like he did Wednesday. He throws gas and can blow batters away. When he's doing that, the bullpen become deeper and more formidable. More importantly, it takes the burden off the starters to go seven innings every time out.
The GoodIn addition to Veras, the rest of the bullpen was terrific, even with Brian Bruney unavailable. Coke got the last out of the seventh after CC Sabathia had surrendered the lead, and Albaladejo pitched a solid eighth. Mo did the expected in the ninth and Marte was shaky, but got an out in the 10th before Edwar Ramirez pitched next 1-1/3 innings.
The offense was potent for six inning with Hideki Matsui and Melky hitting consecutive homers in the second. Robinson Cano and Nick Swisher each drove in a run in the third. Derek Jeter homered in the fourth, doubled in a run in the sixth and scored on Mark Teixeira's single. Teixeira has driven in at least one run in each of the last five games. The Yankees were 4-for-7 with four RBI with runners in scoring position through the first six innings. Unfortunately, it went 1-for-5 with no RBI the rest of the way.
The Bad
Sabathia was anything but ace-like, allowing seven runs -- six earned -- on six hits and four walks. His control was off again and he failed to hold leads of 5-4 and 7-5. He was bailed out by the bullpen and the offense this time, but the Yankees expect and need more from him. Fortunately, his track record indicates he'll bounce back in May and June.
The offense also had its bad moments and could have avoided extra innings all together if it had been able to come up with a productive out. Tied a 7 in the seventh, the Yankees loaded the bases with no outs. It's a situation in which they have to come away with at least one run. But Melky struck out on a pitch around the eyes. Brett Gardner pinch hit and popped to third. Jeter ended the inning with a pop to short. The offense went dormant after that until the 13th and 14th.
What We Learned
Sabathia walked off the mound to boos. His honeymoon period is quickly coming to an end. He needs to start dominating soon or fans will start wondering if Sabathia is just another version of Randy Johnson.
Runners On Third With Less Than Two Outs
Wednesday
4 Opportunities
1-for-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, K
Season
26 Opportunities
6-for-22, 3B, BB, 3 SF, 15 R, 12 RBI, 2 K, 2 GIDP
Up Next
Friday at Boston, 7:10 p.m., YES
Joba Chamberlain (0-0, 5.06) vs. Jon Lester (1-2, 5.50)
3 comments:
CC isn't another Randy. For one thing, his contract is a lot longer... :)
See, you got the AL Sabathia from 2008. Buyer beware...
Dave, you forgot to mention that CC is also a lot younger than Unit was with the Yankees ... and CC's in his prime. I have faith he'll turn it around and when he does, your Sox better look out because we'll be takin' off!
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