Stroman’s first start cut short but offered encouraging signs
NEW YORK— Marcus Stroman’s first inning of 2015 went down in the books simply: 4-3, F7, 3-1.
But for the Blue Jays’ 24-year-old right-hander, who was once thought lost for the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in spring training, the inning may have been the most important of his life. Stroman vowed to make it back this season and on Saturday, after six months of gruelling rehab, he made good on his promise.
The long-awaited debut came in a mostly empty Yankee Stadium — with most fans having gone home after the 41⁄ 2- hour, extra-inning affair that opened the day’s doubleheader — but for the ebullient Long Island native, the lack of atmosphere didn’t seem to matter.
He bounded to the mound at the start of every inning and, after that scoreless first, seemed to sprint off the field like an excited Little Leaguer. His outing was abbreviated after five innings due to a rain delay — he allowed three runs on four hits, including a homer, and two walks — but it was an encouraging debut nonetheless.
Here’s a closer look at Stroman’s start:
BLAME THE RAIN
Granted, it was only short start, hardly the time to even have the thought cross one’s mind. But it still seemed like a little air went out of Stroman’s sails when, to lead off the fifth inning, the Yankees notched their first hit on a cheapie grounder that Cliff Pennington failed to field when he slipped in the wet grass. Stroman gave up three more hits to his next five batters as the Yankees’ hitters started to get a better read off of him the third time through the order. But they had a hard time squaring him up their first two times facing him.
VARIED REPERTOIRE
Stroman is highly regarded for his wide array of pitches, which include a four-seam, two-seam and cut fastball, as well as a curveball, slider and — new this season — a changeup. He showcased all six pitches on Saturday, relying primarily on his fastballs, but mixing in the others to keep hitters off balance.
WORM KILLER
Ten of Stroman’s 15 outs came on the ground as he continued to rely on his sinking, two-seam fastball — a pitch he discovered only in the middle of last season — as well as his curveball, as a means of getting quick outs. He induced five straight ground-ball outs in the third and fourth innings.
DIVING PLAY
Stroman likely gave GM Alex Anthopoulos and manager John Gibbons fits when he dove headlong off the mound in an unsuccessful attempt to make a diving grab on a bounced grounder up the middle. He appeared no worse for wear, emerging with a big smile on his face while drawing head shakes and laughter from the Jays’ dugout. Most importantly, the reconstructed ACL in his left knee appears to be in full working condition.
GARDNER HOMER
Stroman’s biggest mistake came against Brett Gardner in the fifth inning when he left a fastball up and over the plate, which Gardner promptly deposited into the rightfield seats for a three-run homer. It was one of only two hard-hit balls the Yankees hit off Stroman all night, but with a pair of infield-singles on board, it was costly.