Know from Adam
Yankees pleased with Warren’s consistency
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Just call Adam Warren Mr. Consistency.
“I was pretty pleased, throwing all my pitches for strikes,’’ said Warren, who started and gave up four hits and one run over 3 2/3 innings in the Yankees’ 6-4 win over the Astros on Sunday at the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.
Warren has posted a 3.09 ERA this spring.
“I don’t think I’m going to surprise anyone, invent a new pitch or all of sudden throw harder,’’ the right-hander said. “For me, part of my strength is being consistent.
“I know they like me in the bullpen as well, but I want to make this as tough a decision as possible for them. I’ve been pleased.’’
“You want to see consistency,’’ manager Joe Girardi said of the rotation race. “Adam went out and threw strikes, located three or four different pitches, he got outs.’’
Relieve or start, that’s what Warren does and for now he is ahead in the battle. Warren and Bryan Mitchell could grab the final two spots if Luis Severino continues to struggle.
Noted Girardi of Warren, “He locates. He’s got four pitches and he is going to be down in the zone. So it’s something we are really going to have to consider.’’
Warren had his problems with ex-Yankees catcher Brian McCann, who picked up three hits, two against Warren.
“I was trying to reinvent the wheel with him because he’s taught me a lot about pitching in the big leagues,’’ Warren said. “It was funny because I felt like both of those hits came off pretty good pitches, it almost seemed like he knew what was coming.’’
The Yankees scored three runs in the ninth to win in springtraining fashion. Trailing 4-3 with the bases loaded, Clint Frazier scored from third on a two-out wild pitch by Jandel Gustave. Also on the play, pinch-runner Thairo Estrada scored from second, hustling all the way around to put the Yankees up, 5-4.
As for the right-field battle between Aaron Judge and Aaron Hicks, Judge threw out McCann at second in the fourth on a single into the right-field corner and lined a single in three at-bats. He’s 2-for-6 after a 3for-20 slump.
“You hope he is starting to come out of it,’’ Girardi said of Judge. “Hicksie has played extremely well. That’s probably going to go down to the wire. You don’t want to make an opinion too early because some people take longer to get going than others.’’