Chapman, Betances regaining form
For all the improvements the Yankees made to their bullpen by acquiring David Robertson and Tommy Kahnle from the White Sox, they still rely most of all on Dellin Betances and Aroldis Chapman.
And after both struggled in the middle of the season, they’ve shown signs of regaining their form, including in Saturday’s 5-4 win over the Rays at Yankee Stadium.
Betances got up in the bottom of the fifth and pitched a scoreless sixth, and Chapman stranded Steven Souza Jr. at third by getting Evan Longoria to pop out to end the top of the ninth, hitting 104 mph along the way.
In his past four appearances, Chapman is 2-0 with two saves, giving up just two hits in five scoreless innings — and he has struck out six.
“He’s throwing the ball really well,” manager Joe Girardi said. “It looks like he’s starting to get on a roll. We want to keep that going. We know how dominating he can be.”
He kept the game tied in the ninth despite a catcher’s interference call on Gary Sanchez that sent Wilson Ramos to first. Souza, who reached on a forceout, got to third after Chapman appeared to have him picked off, but Chase Headley’s throw from first pulled Didi Gregorius off second, and he was unable to make the tag. The ball got away from Gregorius, allowing Souza to reach third with two out.
But he got Longoria on a 103 mph fastball.
“I kept fighting and was able get that out,” Chapman said through an interpreter. “In that spot, I want to go with my fastball, good or bad.”
Chapman was the last of five relievers used by Girardi after he pulled Caleb Smith in the fourth.
If the Yankees make a trade before Monday’s non-waiver trade deadline, Smith’s days in the rotation will be over, at least for now.
Team owner Hal Steinbrenner told The Bergen Record on Saturday the team was “still looking” for starting pitching and Girardi wouldn’t say whether Smith would start again when his turn comes around.
“Any time you get near [the] trading deadline [it can] influence what a club does,’’ Girardi said.
Gregorius stayed in the game after Souza slid into him at second, though he stayed on the ground momentarily and was checked out by trainer Steve Donohue. Girardi was unsure whether Gregorius would be available Sunday.
Matt Holliday had a pair of singles in the win. It was his first multi-hit game since he returned from a viral infection on July 14 that caused him to miss 19 games.
Aaron Hicks (oblique) took live batting practice Saturday for the first time since suffering his injury. The outfielder took two rounds from both the left and right sides of the plate and will swing in the cage Sunday.