Game 46. Yanks lose 6-3. Kuroda knocked out early.

It could have been worse. Hiroki Kuroda entered the game as the Yanks’ ace, 6-2, 1.99. After taking a liner off his calf, he left the game after 2+ innings pitched. The fear was the DL.

He probably won’t miss the next start. Losing tonight is one thing (6-3). Losing Kuroda is another.

Kuroda gave up a solo HR to Markasis in the first and then a 2-run HR to Davis in the same inning. When he left in the third, there were no outs and two on. The Yanks did get a run in the 3rd on a Cano single.

Preston Claiborne came in and probably should have used more time to warm up, since with an injury delay he had all the time he needed. 1st batter, 3 R Hr. Like Nuno the night before, the first runs he gives up in the majors is via the home run ball.  But it let the game get out of hand at 6-1.

Granderson HR’d in the 5th to make it 6-2, his first HR of the year, and David Adams got his 2nd MLB career hr in the  9th to make it 6-3.

Kuroda 2+, 5 R, 8 H, 0 walks and 0 K. He falls to 6-3, 2.67. An un-Kuroda-like performance.

Claiborne 2 Ip, 1 R, 1 H, that big 3-run HR. 0 walks, 2 K. ERA to 0.82.

Adam Warren 5 IP. Garbage innings, but what a job he’s done this year after that one terrible outing last year in his MLB debut. 4 IP, 0 R, 5 H, 0 walks and 2 K. His ERA drops to 1.14.

Game 44. Pronk saves Yanks in 9th, they win in 10, 6-4.

The Yanks gave CC leads, but he couldn’t hold them. In the end, Travis Hafner tied the game in the 9th and gave the Yanks an insurance run in the 10th as the Yanks improved to 28-16 with a 6-4, 10-inning win over Baltimore.

Mo got the save as the greatest farewell tour ever continues. 17 for 17 in saves, and just 44 games into the season. Save #625 of his career lowers his ERA under 1.50. All this at age 43. More on Mo in a bit.

Cano hit his league-leading 13th HR in the 1st to put the Yanks up 1-0. David Adams’ first MLB HR made it 2-0 in the second.

The record for HR by a second baseman in a season is 42. Rogers Hornsby and Davey Johnson (Johnson had 43 for the 1973 Braves, but one was as a PH). It looks like Cano could break that record this year.

But CC could not hold leads tonight.

Up 2-0 in the second, CC coughed up a HR. 2-1.

A double and single tied the game for the O’s in the fifth. An overzealous fan may have cost the O’s the game. I’m all for kicking fans out of the ballpark that interfere with the action. Hey, you want a ball, fork over $11 or so at a sporting goods store. Instead, this fan’s interference on a double held the runner at third, and may have cost the Orioles the game. Keep your hands to yourself and don’t interfere on fair balls, will ya? Anyway, it worked out great for the Yanks. Runner held at third due to the ground-rule double. We will see how big that turned out.

In the 7th, Overbay’s HR (7) made it 3-2. But CC couldn’t hold that either, as he left pitches up. Not to be critical, but if you are getting $23MM or so a year to be the ace, you have to hold leads. Instead, CC coughed it up, giving two right back. Really, CC has been decent this year, but NOT the ace. That has been Kuroda.

CC 6 1/3, 4 R, 11 H, 0 walks, 2 K. Not dominant. ERA to 3.43.

To the 9th, and the Yanks were losing 4-3. Hafner, who earlier in the game was out in front just a hair too early in missing a 3-run HR, went the other way and tied the game up with HR #8.

Meanwhile, the Yanks bullpen shut things down after CC left. Shawn Kelley 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 walk and all 3 outs via the K. ERA to 5.40.

Robertson (W 3-0, 2.95) the 9th. 0 R, 1 H, 0 walks and 2 K.

In the 10th, doubles by Ichiro and Wells put the Yanks up 5-4 and a single by Hafner was insurance.

Enter Sandman. Mo’s 17th save (out of 17) iced it. At 43, he is 17 for 17 in saves, #625 of his career is a 1-2-3 inning. ERA to 1.47.

Tell me again why he is retiring? For he is going out on top of his game.

 

Game 42. Yanks shut out Toronto, 5-0.

Hiroki Kuroda has been the Yanks’ ace so far this year and he was again tonight. He gave up a leadoff double and then no other hit until the seventh inning as the Yanks shut out Toronto 5-0.

In making predictions, a lot of people had the Blue Jays (what with their winter acquisitions) winning the AL East and the Yanks near the bottom. As we have just passed the quarter pole, check the standings.

Kuroda (W, 6-2, 1.99) went 8, 0 R, 2 H, 1 walk and 5 K. Preston Claiborne pitched the 9th, gave up 2 hits, but his MLB ERA remains at 0.00.

The hitting stars are people you wouldn’t expect. A 3B (David Adams) playing in his third MLB game and a 3rd-string rookie catcher (Austin Romine) who was 4 for 35 in his MLB career entering this game.

In the first, Brett Gardner tripled and scored on a groundout by Cano.

In the fifth, Adams and Romine singled, Gardner walked and Nix got a SF.

The Yanks broke it open in the seventh with three runs.  Adams doubled and Ichiro put down a beauty of a bunt single. Romine doubled home a run, Gardner singled in another and Nix closed out the scoring with another SF.

Nix had a strange line. Two walks and 2 sac flies. 0 for 0 with 2 RBI.

Meanwhile, Ben Francisco batted fifth again tonight. WHY? Please, oh please DFA him. 5 for 44 this season. .114.

The Yanks put Pettitte on the 15-day DL and recalled Vidal Nuno.

Stewart should miss just a few days.

Game 41. No #250 for Andy as he leaves early. Yanks lose, 3-2.

Not only did Andy Pettitte not get his 250th career win tonight, he could not qualify for the win. He was pulled with neck and back trouble and took the loss after going just 4 2/3 in the Yanks 3-2 loss to Seattle.

Before the game, the Yanks optioned Brett Marshall back to SWB and brought up Dellin Betances. Here’s some info from mlb.com on the 6’8″ Betances, who may make it as a reliever, but to be frank, has been a disappointment.

Betances, 25, had been touted as one of the club’s brightest pitching prospects, ranked No. 19 by MLB.com, but the local product has experienced struggles with his control and recently moved to the bullpen full-time at Triple-A, where he was 3-2 with a 5.40 ERA in eight games (six starts).

Marshall gave up 5 R in 5 2/3 in his MLB debut but threw 108 pitches, hence the move.

In the 2nd, Andy gave up an RBI double, and the Yanks got it right back on a double by David Adams for his first career RBI.

Andy gave up a run in the fourth on a bases-loaded, 2-out infield single. He had to leave with the injury after 4 2/3. Hopefully a DL stint isn’t necessary, but after his last outing, it’s good to know that Nuno is available.

Not only that, C Chris Stewart left the game with an issue.

Calling Hawkeye and B.J. The M*A*S*H* unit is getting (can you believe it?) larger.

Pettitte, 4 2/3 (L, 4-3, 3.83), 2 R. 4 H, 3 walks and 5 K.

Shawn Kelley gave up a HR to Mike Morse (code) in the 6th. 3-1 Mariners.

Kelley 2 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 walks and 5 K.  5.71.

Logan 1 1/3, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks and 1 K. 2.31.

Warren 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 walks and 0 K. 1.37.

The Yanks had their chances. They were 2 for 13 with RISP tonight.

I don’t know when the Yanks last successfully executed a squeeze play. In honor of one of the greatest bunters ever, Phil Rizzuto, I’ll pop open a bottle of champagne the next time they do so.

In the 5th, 1st and 3rd, one out and Gardner K’s, Nix pops up. One thing I’ve harped on FOR YEARS. Why no squeeze with Gardner up? He can beat OUT a bunt. Why no squeeze down 2-1?

They had 1st & 2nd, two out in the sixth and the rookie, Adams, bounced into a forceout.

They did cut it to 3-2 in the 7th (the final score) on a single by Ichiro, walk by Stewart and after two outs, a single by Cano.

They had Granderson on 2nd with one out in the 8th. Adams popped up and the slumping Ichiro struck out.

Gardner singled with one out in the 9th and stole 2nd and 3rd. With two out, Robbie bounced to SS to end the game.

Granderson had 3 hits tonight. Meanwhile, prospect Austin Romine has to start hitting. 1 for 17 so far in the majors this year.

Game 40. Hughes, Yanks, hammered, 12-2.

We hit the quarter pole with the Yanks at a surprising 25-15 considering all the injuries.

The bad news is the loss tonight, a 12-2 pasting by Seattle, and it was led by our old buddy, Raul Ibanez.

Phil Hughes is an enigma. When good, he can be very good. When bad, he can be horrendous. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Tonight he was very, very bad.

He only lasted 2/3 of an inning, giving up 7 R (a grand slam to Raul), 6 H, 2 walks and 0 K. He falls to 2-3, 5.88.

His first two starts this year were not good. That could be written off because he missed a lot of spring training due to a bulging disc in his back. He then rattled off four good outings in which his ERA in those outings was 1.93. Now two bad outings.

You don’t know what you’ll get. That is his problem. He must be more consistent. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The last pitcher I used that on was … A.J. Burnett. Hughes is like Burnett right now. You don’t know which one—good or bad—will show up.

From the LOHUD blog:

In his first two and his last two – the starts when he’s struggled — he’s had a combined ERA of 14.17 with seven strikeouts. In his middle four starts, he’s had a combined ERA of 1.93 with 30 strikeouts.

Preston Claiborne continued his impressive beginning of his MLB career with 2 1/3 scoreless innings. His ERA is still 0.00.

Brett Marshall then made his MLB debut, and unfortunately for him, it was a forgettable one. With the Yanks down by a bunch, he kind of “took one for the team.” He went 5 2/3, 5 R, 9 H, 5 walks and 1 K. He gave up 2 dingers.

The last out was recorded by SS Alberto Gonzalez, who faced one batter and got a flyout. He recorded just one less out than Hughes.

I hope Hughes was watching Monday when Phelps and Nuno did well. For if he continues the inconsistency, then he must know there are others ready to step in. I’ve defended Hughes, but there is no defense for tonight. He was awful. It’s the kind of performance that makes you wonder if he is disguising an injury. If not, there is no need to panic yet. But eight starts into the season, an ERA of 5.88 isn’t anywhere near good enough.

Before the game, David Adams was activated from AAA, and he played 3B, his first MLB game. Recently acquired 3B Chris Nelson was DFA’d. Adams went 1 for 4.

The Yanks got their runs from HR by Vernon Wells (10) and Chris Stewart (3).

It’s funny. Wells, who the Angels couldn’t wait to dump (salary) after two subpar years for them, has more HR combined than Pujols & Hamilton.

The minors today. Joba starts rehab.

AAA: SWB got hammered, 10-2. They fall to 20-18. Joba started to get his rehab work in, 0 R, 2 H, in 1 IP. Caleb Cotham 6 R in 4 IP. Betances, now a reliever, 1 R in 2 IP. Clay Rapada (7.36) 3 R in 1 IP. 3 H, RBI LF Zoilo Almonte. 3 H, rbi 1B Luke Murton. Dave Adams, due up (maybe tomorrow for 3B?) 2 hits, .316.

AA: 5-3 loss for Trenton. Zach Nuding (1-5, 3.24) 4 R in 4 IP. RF Tyler Austin 2 hits.

High A: Tampa lost 7-2. Cesar Cabral off the DL, one scoreless IP. 3B Anderson Feliz 3 hits.

Low A: 3-2 win for Charleston. Dan Camarena 1 unearned run in 5 IP. 2 H, 2 RBI C Pete O’Brien. (.330).

The Minors today.

AAA: 7-6 loss for SWB. Emergency starter Kelvin Perez 5 R in 2 IP (scheduled starter Brett Marshall may be activated for the DH tomorrow. Him or infielder Corban Joseph). Mark Montgomery 3 scoreless, 4 K, ERA to 1.45. Curtis Granderson RF, 3 for 5.  Dave Adams 3b, 3-run HR. 1B Dan Johnson HR, 3 RBI. DH Thomas Neal 2 h, .343.

AA: Trenton got shut out 4-0. Jose Ramirez 6 Ip, 3 R, 2 ER, on only 2 H. 0 walks and 9 K. 1B Kyle Roller, 2 doubles, .306.

High A: Tampa off.

Low A: Charleston won 9-8. 1B Rey Nunez 2 H, HR, 4 RBI.

Yanks to promote Adams for 3B

The LOHUD blog reports that

the Yankees are prepared to promote David Adams from Triple-A next week and have him take over the Yankees third base job until Kevin Youkilis comes off the disabled list.

Because of the Yankees 40-man roster crunch, the team released and re-signed Adams at the end of spring training. By putting him through release waivers – rather than designating him for assignment …– the Yankees believed they had a better chance of keeping Adams, and the move worked as Adams cleared waivers and
re-signed.

But the maneuver also left the Yankees unable to bring Adams to the major leagues before May 15. (his 26th birthday, by the way). Adams is a righty bat. As the regular third baseman for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Adams is hitting .314/.404/.477 with six doubles, two home runs and a triple. He has 9 rbi in the 24 games he’s played in (27 for 86). He hit .306-8-48 in 86 games for AA Trenton in 2012. He’s also seen a little bit of time at second base — where he played regularly until late last season — and at first base, adding a bit of versatility. As for who goes down, it would seem either Chris Nelson or Ben Francisco could be DFA candidate to open both a 40-man and 25-man roster spot.

You may remember that Adams was supposed to be included in the trade with Seattle for Cliff Lee but had hurt his ankle, one reason the deal never went through. In his minor league career, Adams has hit .296.

The minors today.

AAA: Chien Ming Wang had an off night and SWB lost 5-0. They only got 4 hits. Wang: 5 IP, 5 R, 8 H, 0 walks, 5 K, 1 HR given up. He is now 2-2, 2.63 at AAA. David Adams (1b) had two doubles. (.325)

AA:  Trenton won 5-0 on a two-hitter. Matt Tracy 6 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 3 walks and 9 K. Good to see, since he’s still 3-2, 8.31. 2 RBI each for CF Slade Heathcott and 3B Reegie Corona. C J.R. Murphy 2 hits, .318.

High A: Tampa got shut out 7-0. Bryan Mitchell 7 R, 6 ER in 4 IP. 2B Rob Refsnyder 2 of the 4 hits. (.370 Low A, .385 High A since the callup).

Low A: Charleston won 10-4. Jose Campos (acquired in the Montero deal) 3 2/3, 0 R, 2 H, 1 walk and 5 K. Evan Rutckyj (if he ever makes the majors, I’d love to hear Sterling try to pronounce that last name) 4 unearned runs in 5 1/3. 2 H, 2 RBI 3B Dante Bichette, Jr. (.195).  2 RBI C Pete O’Brien (.313).  3 RBI RF Yeicok Calderon.  SS Cito Culver 3 h, rbi.

The minors today. Wang great again.

AAA: DH. SWB won both games.

Gm. 1: SWB wins 5-3. Five pitchers combined to go the seven innings (minor league DH— games 7 innings each). OF Zoilo Almonte 2 h, solo HR. 1B Dan Johnson 2 H, HR, 2 RBI. C Jeff Farnham 2 RBI.

Gm. 2:  3-1 win as Wang was superb again.  7 IP, 1 R, 6 H, 1 walk and 2 K. AAA so far: 2-1, 0.95. 2 H, HR, 2 RBI 3B Dave Adams.

AA: Trenton had a DH also. They also swept both games.

Gm. 1: 2-1 win in 8. Caleb Cotham 1 R in 6 IP, 3H. SS Ali Castillo 3 H, GW RBI.

Gm 2: 6-4 win. Matt Tracy 4 R in 6 IP. CF Slade Heathcott 2 H, HR, 3 RBI. 1B Kyle Roller 2 RBI.

High A: Tampa suspended, up 1-0 in the 2nd, lightning.

Low A: Charleston off.