Robertson stellar in possible goodbye
The electricity that had been lacking from Yankees pitchers — at least since the ALDS shifted to The Bronx — got turned on Tuesday in the sixth inning of Game 4.
David Robertson walked to the mound with the Yankees in a three-run hole and began throwing darts. By the time his night concluded, the veteran reliever had pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out four and allowing just a walk in the Yankees’ 4-3 seasonending loss to the Red Sox.
It might have been another Yankees farewell for Robertson, who is headed to free agency in a few weeks.
Robertson’s first stint with the Yankees concluded after seven seasons in 2014, when he signed a four-year deal worth $46 million with the White Sox. He returned in July 2017, as part of the trade that also brought Todd Frazier and Tommy Kahnle to the Yankees.
Robertson would like to think he is part of this team’s future.
“But I don’t know what’s going to happen in the next few months,” he said. “I will wait and see. Literally I just have to wait and see what happens. I have to look out for what’s best for me.”
The Yankees can’t complain about Robertson’s work in this postseason. Overall, he pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings in three games.
Robertson struck out four straight batters in the sixth and seventh innings Tuesday after lefty Zach Britton had pitched two innings and allowed one run.
Overall, the bullpen foursome of Britton, Robertson, Dellin Betances and Aroldis Chapman gave the Yankees their best chance of beating the Red Sox in this series.
“We played a real hard season, finished winning 100 games and we get to this point and we just couldn’t finish off the season,” Robertson said. “It’s tough.”
Robertson ranks third on the Yankees’ all-time list for appearances by a pitcher (501). Only Mariano Rivera (1,115) and Dave Righetti (522) have appeared in more games as a Yankees pitcher.
A day after Boston manager Alex Cora shook up the Red Sox lineup to give his team a boost, Aaron Boone did something similar with the Yankees as they faced elimination in Game 4 of the ALDS in the Bronx.
It didn’t have the same impact in the Yankees’ 4-3 season-ending loss, as their bats stayed mostly silent against Boston pitching.
Miguel Andujar, the AL Rookie of the Year candidate, was benched in favor of Neil Walker. Andujar said he was healthy.
On the surface, the decision wasn’t unusual for Boone or the Yankees, who frequently played Walker at third when Tuesday’s starter, CC Sabathia, was on the mound in the final two months of the regular season.
Concerned about Andujar’s shaky defense — especially with Sabathia’s propensity for giving up grounders to the left side off his cutter and Sabathia’s immobility on the mound — the Yankees often went to Walker’s more dependable glove. The veteran infielder started at third in all four of Sabathia’s final outings of the season, with Andujar serving as the DH or a pinch-hitter.
Walker was given the nod again after appearing in just three innings over three games in the series prior to Game 4. He entered with no hits in his previous 27 postseason at-bats, but delivered the Yankees’ first hit of the night.
With Aaron Hicks back from a hamstring injury, Brett Gardner stayed in the lineup — in left field — instead of Andrew McCutchen.
Gardner hoped it wasn’t his last night with the Yankees. He has a $13 million team option for next season.
“I’m not gonna stand here say and say I’m done,’’ Gardner said. “My body feels great. I’d love to be back. We’ll figure that out at the right time.”
Boone said Gardner’s inclusion in the lineup was days in the making — and not necessarily due to Hicks’ return or McCutchen’s recent funk at the plate.