Big relief as pen combines for six no-hit frames
Despite being without some of its more familiar names, the Yankees bullpen delivered one of its best performances of the season in Saturday’s 7-6, 11-inning win over the Athletics in The Bronx.
Five relievers, none more surprising than A.J. Cole, who hadn’t pitched since April 28, combined for six no-hit innings.
The right-hander, picked up from the Nationals last month in exchange for cash considerations, pitched two scoreless frames after walking the first two batters he faced to start the 10th.
“To be able to not flinch, stay poised, make pitches,” Aaron Boone said when asked what impressed him from Cole. “He went through a tough part of their lineup. He really battled out of trouble and then settled in and gave us a couple of really good innings.”
Cole said he was able to settle down after the first two batters and was ready to pitch as long as was needed, but Neil Walker hit the game-winning single in the 11th.
The game almost didn’t get to Cole, though, because Aroldis Chapman walked the bases loaded with no one out in the ninth then dealt with a split fingernail before he escaped without allowing a run — thanks to some help from Brett Gardner, who threw out Matt Olson at the plate to end the inning.
Boone sounded confident Chapman will be OK.
Prior to Chapman’s entrance, Jonathan Holder, Chad Green and Dellin Betances combined to retire all nine batters they faced.
Brandon Drury has begun wearing tinted glasses to help deal with the blurred vision that has bothered him for much of his career, but only came to light this season.
“It’s something he requested,” Boone said. “The yellow [lenses] brighten things up in the evening. Hopefully, it’s something that can help him along.”
Despite the success Gleyber Torres has had since joining the Yankees, Boone doesn’t plan on shifting the second baseman out of the nine-hole.
“There’s always that chance I could move him up, but right now, I like him so much in that ninehole because he becomes like another leadoff hitter down there,’’ the manager said before Torres went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts.
Boone also won’t be moving Didi Gregorius out of the three-spot. Gregorius snapped an 0-for-30 skid with a fifth-inning single Saturday.
“I like where he is,’’ Boone said. “We’ve done OK even with him going through this little funk the last week. … It’s just a matter of time with Didi.”
Justus Sheffield, the top Yankees’ pitching prospect who was pulled in the fourth inning of his start with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday night because of shoulder stiffness, was placed on the seven-day disabled list Saturday.