Struggles the same in Yank loss to Rays
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — New Year. Same Big Mike.
In his first start of the 2017 season on Wednesday night, Michael Pineda lasted just 3.2 innings as the Yankees dropped the rubber-game of their three-game series to the Rays, 4-1.
The three Yankees’ starters during the series — Masahiro Tanaka (2.2 IP, 7 ER), CC Sabathia (5 IP, 0 R) and Pineda — went a combined 11.1 innings, putting stress on the team’s bullpen early in the season (13.2 IP, 0 R, 17 K).
“That has to change,” Joe Girardi said. “You knew early on that you weren’t going to get a ton out of them, but you can’t live like that.”
Pineda, the frustrating 28-yearold righthander, has not earned a win since Aug. 5, 2016 — exactly eight months and counting. He was charged with four earned runs on eight hits and recorded six strikeouts. As usual, he was victimized by the home run ball and two-out hits.
“In the offseason, during the season, midseason, every season,” Girardi said before the game of Pineda’s ability to confuse and confound. “It really comes down to mistakes. Those are the type of things that we have to eliminate.”
Pineda’s stuff can be electric, but his results last season were especially maddening. In 2016, he went 6-12 with a 4.82 ERA in 32 starts despite posting 175 strikeouts in 175.2 innings. Pineda did allow 27 homers, and opponents hit .325 against him with two outs.
On Wednesday night, Corey Dickerson led off with a homer against Pineda.
In the second inning, the Rays tacked on three more runs courtesy of a two-run single by Derek Norris and an RBI single by Dickerson, both with two outs. Kevin Kiermaier also had a two-out single before Pineda finally got out of the frame.
“We had two outs and it looked like he was going to get out of that inning without giving up a run, but he just couldn’t seem to get the third out,” Girardi said. “He made a few mistakes three hitters in a row with his fastball, and it cost him.”
The revamped heart of the lineup didn’t do much to help the laboring righty. Gary Sanchez, Greg Bird and Matt Holliday went a combined 2-for12 Wednesday night and finished the series 4-for37 with nine strikeouts.
Girardi is still waiting for Pineda to gain consistency on the mound.
“We expect Michael to have a big year, pitch really well and get deep into games,” Girardi said. “Because at times, Michael can be dominant. We’d like to see a consistency there that allows him to really be one of the top starters.”
Pineda is in the final year of his deal. He will make $7.4 million in 2017, but has a chance to make much more in free agency if he pitches to his capabilities. Opportunity beckons.
But on Wednesday night, Pineda failed to take advantage.
“I missed locations in that second inning,” Pineda said through a translator. “I felt good, though, physically. I felt that my pitches were good, but that’s it.”
Pitching coach Larry Rothschild said the key for Pineda will be commanding his upper90s fastball and devastating slider.
But can Pineda turn it around? Or is this basically who he is?
“Michael might have left Larry scratching his head more than anyone else at times just because it was puzzling the way he’d pitch,” Girardi said. “We’ve seen him have a 16-strikeout performance and we’ve seen him have 10 strikeouts in five innings and give up four or five runs. You just say to yourself, how did that happen?” Yet it continues to happen. “It really just comes down to relaxing and making your pitches,” Girardi said. “And the only way to work on it (getting the third out in a tough inning) is to really get in those situations and get out of them and get some confidence.”