Yankees will play season in memory of executive’s wife
NEW YORK — His voice quavering as he fought tears, New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said the team will play this season in the memory of the wife of a club executive who was killed this week by a falling tree.
Cathy Tusiani died Wednesday when her car was struck during a storm in suburban Armonk. Her husband is Yankees senior vice president of partnerships Michael J. Tusiani.
At the end of his pregame news conference before Friday’s home opener, Boone spoke of the Tusianis.
“I just want to say it real quick, with all the excitement of opening day, we get reminded all the time of the perspective,” he said. “At the end of the day, this is our livelihood. It really matters, but it is just a game. And our family, our Yankee family — heavy hearts today. As you know, Michael Tusiani lost his wife ...”
Boone started to sob and needed about 25 seconds before he could mention her name and continue.
“We’ll be playing for them today and all season,” he said.
Cathy Tusiani was 50. “Words cannot capture the devastating impact that is being felt within the Yankees family after the sudden and tragic loss,” the team said in a statement. “Cathy was beloved by our front office staffers, who were privileged to experience and bear witness to her kindness, intelligence, sense of humor and great love for her husband.”
LOÁISIGA PUT ON 60-DAY INJURED LIST
NEW YORK — Yankees reliever Jonathan Loáisiga will miss an extensive part of the season because of an elbow injury for the second year in a row.
New York put the 29year-old right-hander on the 60-day injured list Friday because of a strained right flexor muscle.
“We’ll get with the doctors. It’s a significant forearm strain,” Boone said before the home opener against Toronto.
Loáisiga pitched a hitless ninth inning in Wednesday’s 6-5, 11-inning win at Arizona and was 1-0 in four scoreless innings over three relief appearances this season.
“It was a couple pitches before he finished his outing the other day,” Boone said. “He at the time didn’t really think it was that big a deal. Finished that inning, said something and then after the game even getting with him, I don’t think he was too concerned about it. But, obviously, it is concerning, so we’ll see what we have now over the days and weeks and where we go from here.”
Loáisiga was limited to 17 games last year by right elbow inflammation that sidelined him from the Yankees between April 5 and Aug. 8.
New York made the move retroactive to Thursday and selected the contract of right-hander Dennis Santana from Triple-A Scranton/WilkesBarre. Santana, 27, allowed one run over 1 1⁄3 innings in two appearances for the RailRiders this season, giving up three hits and three walks. A veteran of six major league seasons, he had a 5.91 ERA in nine games with the New York Mets last year, became a free agent in August and signed a minor league contract with the Yankees in December.
“I absolutely believe and knew he was going to play a big role for us this season. The time has come to bring him here,” Boone said. “I’m excited about what he brings.”