SIGH OF RELIEF
Bullpen keeps picking up slack for lagging rotation
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Due to a rotation that doesn’t work deep into games, the Yankees’ bullpen is in danger of eventually melting into the mound.
However, the pen continued to be a strong point Sunday when Chad Green, Tyler Clippard and Dellin Betances worked four scoreless innings in a 3-2 win over the Rays at Tropicana Field.
“We are doing good. We have so many weapons,’’ Betances said after recording the final four outs for his second save since replacing the injured Aroldis Chapman as the closer.
With a rotation that hasn’t had a starter work a full seven innings in the past 11 games, and Masahiro Tanaka combining for 4 2/3 frames in his last two outings, the relief corps’ innings will eventually pile up and possibly extract a toll.
“The importance is that more than a couple of guys who can give us multiple innings on a day that Adam [Warren] said he was OK, but I felt if we could stay away from him I was going to stay away,’’ Joe Girardi said. “Greenie stepped up and now I have to stay away from Greenie for a couple of days.’’
After not winning the No. 5 starter’s spot in spring training Green started the season in Triple-A. He was promoted, appeared in one big league game and was sent back. Recalled on May 14, the right-hander has worked three games and been terrific. In 8 ¹ /3 innings he hasn’t allowed a run, given up just two hits, a walk and fanned nine.
“I am glad they used me in that situation,’’ said Green, who replaced CC Sabathia in the sixth inning with the Yankees leading, 3-2, no outs, a runner on first and Evan Longoria, the Rays’ best hitter, on the way to the plate. “I feel good right now.’’
When Aaron Judge made a diving grab of Longoria’s blast into right-center Green felt even better.
After Green got Derek Norris on a ground out that moved Kevin Kiermaier from second to third in the sev- enth, Girardi called for Clippard and he won a 10-pitch at-bat with pinch-hitter Logan Morrison. Clippard whiffed the first two hitters in the eighth and turned it over to Betances.
Corey Dickerson struck out to end the eighth. Longoria popped up the first pitch in the ninth. Michael Martinez was overwhelmed and struck out. Betances reached 100 mph working to Steven Souza Jr. With the count, 0-2, catcher Gary Sanchez called for another fastball, but Betances shook to a breaking pitch that froze Souza for the final out.
Eventually the pen will likely pay a price if the starters don’t work deeper into games. However, the bullpen checked into Sunday’s action with a 2.81 ERA which was the third best in baseball and lowered that to 2.73 with another pristine performance.