Slower Montgomery just what rotation needs
Jordan Montgomery didn’t make any wild changes after a few shaky outings. He didn’t add a new pitch or prepare for his start differently.
The rookie southpaw merely slowed down his motion, keeping his shoulders back as long as possible.
“That’s what I did last year when I was in such a good rhythm with the [Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre]] RailRiders,” he said.
The adjustment improved his fastball command, and the results — two hits, one run, no walks and six strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings — were there, even though the Yan- kees bullpen failed to hold the lead Montgomery left with in an ugly 6-2 loss to the Royals.
The Montgomery the Yankees saw Tuesday night was more reminiscent of the one they saw early this season, a strike-thrower with no fear, coming after hitters with multiple pitches. He didn’t walk a batter for the first time this season and only allowed one base runner in the first six innings. Montgomery did get fortunate with four long drives that were hauled in at the wall, but he was economical, throwing 98 pitches, 71 for strikes.
He was so impressive, Royals ace Danny Duffy took notice.
“He’s out there and he’s beyond his years and it’s fun to watch him,” Duffy said.
Montgomery allowed a solo homer to Lorenzo Cain with one out in the seventh, and retired Eric Hosmer for the second out. But manager Joe Girardi took him out, and Adam Warren allowed a go-ahead two-run homer to Jorge Bonifacio. Girardi felt Montgomery, who has reached the 100-pitch mark just once this year, was tiring, and the young pitcher didn’t second-guess the move.
“I trust those guys coming out of the bullpen. I trust them all,” Montgomery said. “They’re doing the best to execute pitches. They’ve been so great throughout the year already. Nobody’s perfect. Win as a team, lose as a team.”
The outing was Montgom- ery’s best in the big leagues, just the second time he has recorded outs in the seventh inning in eight career starts, and the first time he has allowed less than two runs. He lowered his ERA from 4.81 to 4.30. Most importantly, it came on the heels of two shaky starts, games in which he allowed 12 hits and nine earned runs in 11 innings pitched.
But Montgomery never questioned himself. After his previous outing, he was critical, saying his age (24) had nothing to do with his struggles.
“I haven’t really wavered in my confidence,” he said. “I know what I can do.”