The LoHud Yankees Blog

The Trenton Thunder announced today that lefty Steve Garrison has been called up from Double-A. He’s not here right now, there’s no locker with his name, and the Yankees haven’t announced move, but I’m sure the Trenton website is correct.

Still no lineup posted, and they often wait to post a lineup whenever there’s a move to be made.

UPDATE, 4:24 p.m.: Garrison just arrived. Still no word on a move. Wouldn’t be surprised if he’s here more as a long man than as a second lefty specialist.

For me, Brett Gardner’s slide was the turning point of last night’s game. In a larger scope, though, the key might have been the work of the Yankees bullpen. Mariano Rivera got the save, and Hector Noesi got the biggest out with that bases-loaded strikeout, but it’s worth remembering that Dave Robertson found a new way to overwhelm hitters last night.

When he opened the eighth inning with strikeouts against Johnny Damon and Ben Zobrist, Robertson didn’t get the outs with fastballs or curveballs.

“I was facing some of the top hitters in this league,” he said. “With Johnny and Zobrist, I had to make pitches. The changeup was the pitch to go to right there because I felt I could get them out with it. I had to make sure I used it so that I couldn’t get hurt with it.”

Not getting hurt with it meant keeping those strike-three changeups on the outside part of the plate. The element of surprise — especially against a familiar face like Damon — was as important as anything.

“That’s pretty much it,” Robertson said. “I’m hoping to get away with one there and (let) that be it. If it doesn’t work, I’m going to go back to my strengths which is my fastball and curveball.”

The changeup won’t be — and shouldn’t be — a go-to pitch for Robertson. He makes his living with the fastball and the curveball, but the fact he was willing to go changeup in that situation says a lot about his confidence in his third pitch. Robertson said he couldn’t remember whether Russell Martin called for it or if Robertson had to shake to it — he thought Martin called for it from the beginning — but either way, Robertson said he was thinking changeup from the beginning.

“It just gives hitters something else to think about when I’m pitching because I’m not afraid to throw it,” he said. “I’ll throw it pretty much any time. I just don’t use it as much as I probably should.”

Brett Gardner wasn’t sure his slide made a difference last night. I’m going to go ahead and say that it did. When Eduardo Nunez grounded into a potential inning-ending double play, Gardner went hard into second base. One of the writers sitting next to me called it the cleanest takeout slide he’d ever seen.

There was absolutely nothing over-the-top about it, Gardner just went hard into Sean Rodriguez’s legs, broke up the double play and changed the game completely.

“Nuney gets down the line pretty well, so I’m not sure if they would have turned a double play if I hadn’t been there,” Gardner said. “But you’ve got to do what you can to get that run across. Bases loaded one out, definitely not trying to hurt anybody, but it’s my job. I’ve got to go in hard and make it difficult for him to turn it.”

Rodriguez’s throw went far off line and the tying run scored.

Gardner’s red hot lately, and last night was just another example. I’ve often written on this blog that I really enjoy watching the way speed plays in a baseball game. You don’t see it every game, but now and then, true speed will make a difference. Maybe it’s making a catch in the outfield, or turning a single into a double, or stealing a base at the right time. Or maybe it’s getting to second base in time disrupt a play that would have crushed a late-inning rally.

“You’ve got to get a good secondary (lead),” Gardner said. “You’ve got to kind of anticipate that happening, and it’s one of those things that I do over there at first in that situation. You’ve got to get a good secondary and really run hard to second and try to get there in time.”

Gardner got there, and as much as anything, that’s why the Yankees won that game.

Associated Press photo

It’s amazing the things that matter in the course of a 162-game season. Tonight the Yankees had their very best relievers available. The Rays were down to a 23-year-old kid who’d never pitched in a Major League game.

“You know he’s going to be nervous out there,” Russell Martin said. “But you’re going up there, and you’re not facing a rookie. You’re facing the guy who’s throwing the ball at you. Just trying to pick up the ball out of his hand, it doesn’t matter if he’s a rookie or a 20-year guy in that situation.”

Torres showed a big fastball tonight, and he had two outs with only a runner at third base. The inning was in his hands, but the Rays elected to intentionally walk Nick Swisher, then Torres walked Andruw Jones unintentionally. Martin’s at-bat lasted seven pitches, and he fouled off one 3-2 pitch before taking the ball four that decided the game.

“It’s not an easy thing to do, but (Martin) has shown patience in his career,” Joe Girardi said. “A lot easier for him than it would have been for me… Russell had a chance to see what he was doing to guys. You give the kid a lot of credit, he had some guts, 3-2 changeups, and we got fortunate that we got a run by walks, but for his first outing, that’s a tough situation.”

The Yankees didn’t have to worry about a similar situation. After A.J. Burnett struggled with walk issues of his own, the Yankees rolled out Hector Noesi (who stranded the bases loaded), Dave Robertson (who struck out his first two hitters on changeups) and Mariano Rivera (who closed out the win with a perfect ninth).

“We just got some guys on base,” Brett Gardner said. “We had some long at-bats, and some guys did a really good job of getting us started there in the eighth inning when we were down two, and I can’t say enough about the at-bat Russell had. That was the at-bat of the game. I don’t know how many pitches he saw, but a full count walk, and we had Dave and Mariano in there the last couple of innings. And that’s a pretty good combination.”

The Rays didn’t have that kind of combination, and that made all the difference tonight.

Here’s Martin.

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And here’s Burnett.

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• Pretty nice catch by Mark Teixeira to end the game. One of those little moments that kind of gets lost in a game like this.

• If you listen to the Burnett audio you’ll pick up the fact that he certainly wasn’t happy with his outing, but he thought he got better as the game continued. Girardi gave him credit for getting big outs when he needed them. “I had better stuff than the numbers said,” Burnett said. “Let’s not get too carried away with the six walks. There were some pretty good pitches in there. Overall, to be able to find a way to throw some zeroes after the four in the first two, I’m going to take some positives from that.”

• Burnett had a brief exchange with a fan as he walked off the field. From up here, I honestly couldn’t tell if he was yelling or just talking. Nothing too over-the-top, not that I could tell anyway. “I forgot it as soon as it happened,” Burnett said. “I couldn’t even tell you what I said or what he said. As soon as it happened, I just went in the dugout and started rooting for Hector.”

• Martin on Burnett: “He just didn’t have fastball command and it seemed like he was getting a little frustrated with that. He was able to calm down and keep us in the game. He ended up having a pretty solid start: Three earned runs, not too bad.”

• Brandon Laird showed up around 8:15 after having a flight delayed in Detroit. He said Kevin Long asked if he’d ever seen Torres, but Laird said he’d never seen him in Scranton/Wilkes-Bare, so he couldn’t give any sort of scouting report.

• Another big game from Brett Gardner who was 1-for-3 with two walks, a stolen base, an RBI and a game-changing takeout slide that broke up a double play and let the tying run score in the eighth. “I didn’t think I went in high or anything,” Gardner said. “I just went in pretty late and tried to get enough of him to affect his throw.”

• What made rookie Alex Cobb so good early? “He had an outstanding, I guess you’d call it a splitchange or a split,” Girardi said. “I thought he did a great job of throwing that at any time in the count.”

• No one seemed too sure what was happening when the lightning struck. It knocked out half of a bank of lights on the first-base side. “They asked me if we wanted to continue play through it or not,” Girardi said. “I said, ‘No, I don’t.’ I thought it was a big time in the game, and I want the lights all on in that situation. They said, ‘It will take 15 minutes.’ I said, ‘We’ve got to wait, then,’ knowing that it could mess up our pitcher too. I thought it was a big time and situation with Robbie Cano up and a runner in scoring position. I felt we needed to wait.”

• How’s this for a bad ending to a rough day? Torre was optioned to Triple-A immediately after the game. Joe Maddon said the Rays have to add a fresh arm and Torres wouldn’t be available for a few days.

Associated Press photos

YANKEES (55-37)
Derek Jeter SS
Curtis Granderson CF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Robinson Cano 2B
Nick Swisher RF
Jorge Posada DH
Russell Martin C
Brett Gardner LF
Eduardo Nunez 3B

RHP A.J. Burnett (8-7, 4.15)
Burnett vs. Rays

RAYS (50-42)
Johnny Damon DH
Ben Zobrist RF
Evan Longoria 3B
Casey Kotchman 1B
B.J. Upton CF
Sean Rodriguez 2B
Justin Ruggiano LF
Robinson Chirinos C
Elliott Johnson SS

RHP Alex Cobb (2-0, 3.41)
Cobb vs. Yankees

TIME/TV: 7:10 p.m., YES Network

WEATHER: It’s Tampa. It’s hot. There’s a roof.

UMPIRES: HP Ed Hickox, 1B Ed Rapuano, 2B Dan Iassogna, 3B Alfonso Marquez

IN THE PARK: The Yankees have not allowed a home run in five straight games, matching their second-longest such stretch in the past three seasons, trailing only a six-game homerless stretch earlier this year. This weekend’s four-game series at Toronto marked the first time the Blue Jays were held homerless at Rogers Centre in a series of at least three games since 2008 vs. Cleveland.

IT GOES BOTH WAYS: The Yankees been held homerless in their past three games, matching their longest such streak of the season. If they don’t homer tonight, the Yankees will match their longest homerless streak of the past three seasons.

ON THIS DATE: On July 18, 1999, David Cone threw his perfect game on Yogi Berra Appreciation Day with Don Larson in the stands having thrown out the first pitch. By the way, both Cone and his catcher that day — a guy named Joe Girardi — are at the Trop for tonight’s game.

UPDATE, 7:25 p.m.: The Yankees took advantage of Rays mistakes to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, but they’ve given it back and then some on Evan Longoria’s two-run double in the bottom of the inning. It’s 2-1 Rays, with runners at the corners and still no outs.

UPDATE, 7:31 p.m.: I have to think that was an easier play for Cano.

UPDATE, 7:45 p.m.: That was Robinson Chirinos’ first big league at-bat. Sharp double to center.

UPDATE, 8:46 p.m.: I’ve been finishing up some early stories for the newspaper. If you’ve also been working for the past hour or so, you really haven’t missed much. The Yankees are once again struggling against a pitcher they’ve never seen, Burnett has been wild all night, and the Rays are leading 4-1 in the top of the fifth.

UPDATE, 8:54 p.m.: The lights flickered during Cano’s at-bat, and now both teams have come off the field with runners at first and second and two outs in the fifth. Unless there are lights above the press box that are out, I can’t find any lights that are currently out.

UPDATE, 8:58 p.m.: Apparently Tropicana Field was just struck by lightning. That’s the official word. The place was actually hit by lightning. They’re waiting for one bank of lights to recover.

UPDATE, 9:09 p.m.: Here we go again, back to action after a weather delay in a dome.

UPDATE, 9:42 p.m.: That’s a big 95-mph strikeout pitch from Noesi to strand the bases loaded. It’s 4-2 at the end of six.

UPDATE, 10:00 p.m.: Teixeira didn’t like the call, but he’s down looking with two runners on base in the seventh. That’s another missed opportunity and Noesi is back out for the bottom of the inning, still a 4-2 Rays lead.

UPDATE, 10:25 p.m.: That’s a big RBI single by Gardner. Now Nunez has a chance to tie it or give the Yankees a lead with one out and the bases loaded in the eighth.

UPDATE, 10:27 p.m.: Holy cow, does Gardner ever go in hard on those takeout slides. Hard to execute a cleaner takeout slide than that. Tied the game at 4.

UPDATE, 10:28 p.m.: Nunez just stole second and it was ruled defensive indifference. That ruling will probably be changed by the end of the night.

UPDATE, 10:38 p.m.: The Rays just got Robertsoned.

UPDATE, 10:43 p.m.: Alexander Torres making his Major League debut facing Granderson, Teixeira and Cano in the ninth inning of a tied game. One way or another, he’s going to remember this.

UPDATE, 11:06 p.m.: Rivera in to close it out after Torres walked in the go-ahead run.

There’s a chance the yankees are going to be a man short when tonight’s game starts. The team went out for batting practice without Brandon Laird, who’s flight into Tampa was apparently delayed.

It’s probably no coincidence that Francisco Cervelli was taking extra ground balls. If something were to happen to an infielder, looks like Cervelli would go to third and Eduardo Nunez would fill at either second or short. When Laird gets here, he’ll add some theoretical flexibility — he played first, third and the outfield corners in the minors — but Girardi said he’s planning to use Laird strictly at third base.

As for Ramiro Pena, he had a stomach ache this morning. It ended with Gene Monahan taking Pena to have his appendix removed. Bad timing: Today is Pena’s birthday.

“This morning I got a call from Geno that he was headed over to the hospital,” Girardi said. “Geno wasn’t exactly sure what it was, but (Pena) was having bad stomach pains. Unfortunately, on his birthday he had his appendix removed. It will be a birthday I’m sure he’ll never forget.”

• Joba Chamberlain also had his appendix removed recently. Who’s next? “It won’t be me because mine’s gone,” Girardi said.

• Rafael Soriano and Eric Chavez are both scheduled to play in tomorrow’s High-A Tampa game. It will be the first rehab game for each of them. “You just kind of keep your fingers cross that everything goes well for both of them tomorrow,” Girardi said.

• Girardi said Soriano will need three rehab appearances at the very minimum.

• Girardi doesn’t have a clear timetable for Chavez. He wasn’t even sure whether Chavez would DH or play the field tomorrow. “He’s been out for a while so I think he’s going to need some at-bats,” Girardi said. The question is how long can he go in those first couple of games. If he was out a shorter period of time, it would probably be easier to build him up, but need him to be able to play nine innings when he gets here, so that could take some time.”

• Even with Laird available at third, Girardi made it clear that Eduardo Nunez is still his regular third baseman while Alex Rodriguez is on the disabled list. “Right now I’m going to stick with Nuney,” Girardi said. “To me Nuney’s earned that and has played well for us, and I’m going to stick with that.”

• Here’s Girardi’s scouting report on Tampa’s rookie starter Alex Cobb: “A young man that has a good fastball that runs a lot. He’s got a good split and a good curveball, and he’s got the ability to throw his offspeed over when he’s behind in the count. It’s a young man that also looks like he fields his position and holds runners pretty well.”

• The Rays played a 16-inning game last night against the Red Sox. Could be good timing for the Yankees to play a team that’s a little worn out. “I don’t know if there’s ever a good time to catch a team,” Girardi said. “Obviously they had a long night last night. We’ve been through that, but we’ve been through that and bounced back pretty well.”

RAYS
Johnny Damon DH
Ben Zobrist RF
Evan Longoria 3B
Casey Kotchman 1B
B.J. Upton CF
Sean Rodriguez 2B
Justin Ruggiano LF
Robinson Chirinos C
Elliott Johnson SS

Associated Press photo

Derek Jeter SS
Curtis Granderson CF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Robinson Cano 2B
Nick Swisher RF
Jorge Posada DH
Russell Martin C
Brett Gardner LF
Eduardo Nunez 3B

The Yankees just posted their batting practice groups. Brandon Laird is listed. Ramiro Pena is not.

Still no lineup just yet.

UPDATE, 4:05 p.m.: Yankees just announced that Pena had his appendix removed this morning.

Tonight
RHP A.J. Burnett (8-7, 4.15)
vs.
RHP Alex Cobb (2-0, 3.41)
7:10 p.m., YES Network / ESPN

Tuesday
RHP Bartolo Colon (6-5, 3.47)
vs.
RHP Jeremy Hellickson (8-7, 3.21)
7:10 p.m., MY9

Wednesday
RHP Freddy Garcia (7-7, 3.43)
vs.
LHP David Price (9-7, 3.73)
7:10 p.m., YES Network

Thursday
LHP CC Sabathia (14-4, 2.64)
vs.
RHP James Shields (8-8, 2.60)
7:10 p.m., YES Network / MLB Network

Brett Gardner was last caught stealing a base on June 18 in Chicago. He’s since gone a perfect 12-for-12, including three stolen bases the past two days in Toronto. This was shaping up to be the worst base-running season of his career, but Gardner’s turned everything around: He’s getting on base again, running again, and stealing bags again.

“I think he’s been more aggressive actually, and I think that’s been the difference,” Joe Girardi said. “Base stealing, you’re going to get thrown out, that’s the bottom line. There are times that everything is going to click: The pitcher’s going to quick to home, the catcher makes a perfect throw, it’s a perfect exchange and a perfect tag and you’re going to be out, but that can’t take away from your aggressiveness.”

In recent years, the Yankees have gone into series against Tampa Bay looking like a bunch of slow, plodding old men compared to the Rays group of young athletes. This year, it’s kind of the opposite.

Tonight, the Yankees will open a four-game series at The Trop having more stolen bases than the Rays, more triples than the Rays, and having been caught stealing fewer times than the Rays. With Gardner, Curtis Granderson and Eduardo Nunez in the regular lineup, the Yankees can run a little bit. Even Russell Martin has bought some aggressive base running to the lineup, and Derek Jeter’s stolen eight bases.

“I wouldn’t say worrying about getting caught gets you thrown out,” Gardner said. “But worrying about getting caught makes you a little more passive and you don’t go as often. Just be aggressive… Some guys that I’ve run on have been pretty quick to the plate, (and) a little bit of it has to do with luck, probably. In the first inning (Sunday), he was really quick to the plate but I ran on a good pitch to run. Other times, I’m just being more aggressive and not worrying about being caught.”

Associated Press photo