Chapman wows in debut after Bombers blast 5 HRs
CC Sabathia was among the players in each dugout perched on the top step to get the best look at Aroldis Chapman’s Yankees debut.
“The whole Stadium was up,’’ Sabathia said. “It was fun to watch. Hopefully, we get some more of that. You could tell he was pumped up.’’
Asked to protect a fourrun lead in the ninth against the defending champion, but slumping, Royals on Monday night at Yankee Stadium, Chapman pushed the speed gun to triple-digits and gave up a run in what was a 6-3 Yankees’ victory in front of an announced crowd of 41,243.
Chapman, who served a 30-game suspension for violating MLB’s domestic violence policy, hit 101-mph facing Omar Infante and Cheslor Cuthbert for the first two outs of the ninth as the crowd, which greeted the gas-throwing lefty with a loud ovation, roared its approval.
Even a pinch-hit double by Paulo Orlando and an RBI single from Alcides Escobar didn’t dull the senses, and Chapman ended the Yankees’ third win in four games by getting Lorenzo Cain to tap out.
“He is on another level,’’ said Dellin Betances, who with Andrew Miller, warmed up but never got into the game. “You could feel the electricity when he was warming up. Everybody in the bleachers was taking pictures. He is a show.’’
The back end of the Yankees’ bullpen is the only department t hat didn’t require an upgrade.
The lineup, which provided f ive solo homers off Chris Young, could use some help. Ditto the rotation. Yet, the Yankees will take Chapman’s gas to make sure a lead going into the seventh turns into a victory.
Chapman, who hadn’ t faced big league hitters since spring training because he could only work in extended spring training games while suspended, was still perspiring 30 minutes after the game ended.
“I was very excited and very happy,’’ he said of the reception he received. “I was looking to stay focused.’’
Of the 17 pitches that Chapman unleashed, 11 were strikes, and he said if needed Tuesday night he will be ready.
“The score being 6 -2 gave me a comfort level and allowed me to concentrate and get the job done,’’ Chapman said.
Actually most of the heavy lifting was completed long before Chapman turned on the crowd, teammates and the Royals. The Yankees slugged five homers — two by Carlos Beltran — off Chris Young.
“We didn’t chase the slider,’’ said Beltran, who has 398 homers and passed Mark Teixeira for fourth place on the all-time list for switch hitters. “He threw fastballs in the middle of the zone and we were able to square them.’’
Starting for the first time since last October, Ivan Nova was lifted by Joe Girardi in the fifth one out shy of qualifying for the victory that went to Kirby Yates (2-0).
While the attention and buzz was on and around Chapman, Phil Coke and Yates recorded the two biggest outs of the game. Coke, who was working in the Atlantic League of the independent circuit late last month, retired Eric Hosmer on a fly to deep left that stranded the two runners he inherited from Nova in the fifth. Yates took over for Coke in the sixth and didn’t allow the runner Coke left to score.
Yet, the night belonged to Chapman and rightfully so because of the triple-digit fastball.
“You see 101 and it’s not something you see every day,’’ Girardi said.
Actually, Betances was looking for more.
“I had a friendly bet in the bullpen he would reach 102,’’ said Betances, whose fastball has been clocked at 100 mph. “I told him I was disappointed.’’