Blake implodes in Blue Jays’ big 7th
TORONTO – With the Yankees trailing 3-0 in the seventh inning Friday night, Joe Girardi sent righthander Blake Parker into the game to take over for starter Bryan Mitchell.
Parker imploded, allowing four runs on four hits and two walks while recording only one out, forcing Girardi to explain why he went to the relatively inexperienced 31-year-old rather than entrusting Adam Warren or Tyler Clippard to keep the game close.
“He has the most experience and has probably been pitching the best in a situation where you’re down 3-0,” Girardi said of Parker, who has 89 career appearances between 2012-16. “If it’s closer, I probably go to Adam, but knowing that we’re going to need these guys a lot if we’re going to make a run, you’re hoping he can get through the seventh, you get a couple runs then maybe go to Adam, but it just didn’t work.”
Parker entered the game with a 3.14 ERA in 13 appearances with the Yankees, allowing one run over his last seven games dating back to Aug. 31.
“We hadn’t scored any runs,” Girardi said. “You don’t want to burn (Warren or Clippard) on nights that you’re not necessarily winning or the game’s not closer.”
Moments later, Girardi was pressed on the issue again, asked if he was saying that a three-run spread is “no longer considered a close game.”
“I’ve been throwing Adam multiple innings. Parker has been throwing pretty good for us; he didn’t tonight,” an irritated Girardi said. “I could have went to Adam and then maybe I don’t have him tomorrow. We have some issues, in a sense. We don’t have a starter Monday. I’m just trying to piece it all together.”
At that point, Girardi got up from his desk and ended the interview session, walking out of his office through a group of reporters.
MAYBE CASTRO CAN’T
Starlin Castro was set to work out in the weight room and hit in the indoor cage Friday, further testing his strained right hamstring. But while the second baseman continues to hold out hope he can play in Toronto, Girardi seemed to doubt that was realistic.
Girardi stressed that “nothing has really happened” to change Castro’s outlook, but team trainers appear to be less optimistic than Girardi and Castro were when they set a timetable on Thursday.
“I’m not saying he won’t, but I’m not counting on him is what I’m saying,” Girardi said.
Castro could run Saturday, and he hopes to take batting practice on the field, which would give him an idea of where he stands.
O, YES THEY DID
The Orioles bid farewell to David Ortiz with a pregame ceremony at Camden Yards Thursday, presenting the retiring Red Sox legend with the dugout phone he smashed to bits with a bat in 2013.
The Orioles also played a highlight video of Ortiz’s greatest hits – all of them coming against the Yankees. Baltimore explained its decision in a pair of tweets:
“We considered a video having some fun at Ortiz’s expense: his 29 at-bats vs our old friend Brian Matusz, resulting in 4 hits & a .138 avg” read the first tweet. Then, in a second, the Orioles wrote: “Instead, we’re playing a highlight reel of David Ortiz’s home runs vs the #Yankees, something both @Orioles and @RedSox fans can enjoy.”
One person that didn’t find Baltimore’s gesture particularly enjoyable? Girardi, who remained silent when informed about the previous night’s ceremony.