The Yankees series in Seattle couldn’t have gone much better for New York. On Monday, after the lineup was sent down in order through the first three innings on just 21 pitches, the Bronx Bombers blitzed Mariners ace Felix Hernandez, who allowed seven earned runs in four and 2/3 innings while taking his second loss of the season. Tuesday, the Yankees came back in the ninth inning down a run with back-to-back two out hits including a game-tying double off the bat of Stephen Drew. They would go on to win in extra innings on Garrett Jones’ three-run home run. Then, in game three of the series Wednesday afternoon, the Yankees saw their ace Masahiro Tanaka return from the disabled list and to peak form as he stifled the Mariners offense for seven innings.
Tanaka was spectacular as he allowed just three hits and one earned run while striking out nine on 78 pitches. The Yankees still hold a one game lead in the division even with the time Tanaka missed on the disabled list. His health is obviously crucial to the Yankees hopes of contention this year and it was a great sign for the club that he looked so good in this start.
While the series basically couldn’t have gone better for the Yankees, it could’ve gone a little better for Brian McCann, who left Wednesday’s game with a foot injury. McCann’s injury is to the bottom of his foot and bothers him when he’s catching, which would seem like a problem the Yankees catcher might have to deal with throughout the season.
The Yankees also made a minor move to make room for Tanaka on the roster before Wednesday’s game when they designated David Carpenter for assignment. Carpenter was acquired from Atlanta this past offseason in the trade for Manny Banuelos and has pitched pretty well for the last two years, but the Yankees didn’t feel like waiting any longer for Carpenter to find some consistency. It wasn’t a completely unexpected move as the Yankees like Esmil Rogers’ ability to pitch multiple innings, but getting rid of Carpenter shows that the Yankees are going through this season with at least some semblance of a sense of urgency. New York expected him to be a big part of the bullpen this offseason, but it didn’t work out and now they’re moving on. Maybe they’ll continue to show this sense of urgency and address second base in similar fashion.
While they wait for Jacoby Ellsbury to get healthy, everything’s coming up Yankees.
(Photo: Jennifer Nicholson-USA Today Sports)