GAME 134: Another outstanding start by Michael Pineda was wasted by a punchless offense that mustered only 1 hit against Drew Hutchinson over seven innings. Today’s lineup came in with a collective .325 BA against Hutchinson.
The Yankees only threat came in the 4th inning, as a Mark Teixeira double and two hit-batsmen (Carlos Beltran and Brian McCann) loaded the bases with 2 out. But Hutchinson got Martin Prado on a soft fly to center. And that was that. Here’s the box score and recap.
Patience With Pineda Paying Off
For more than a minute there, it looked like the Yankees got jobbed in the January 2012 Jesus Montero – Michael Pineda trade. Pineda didn’t throw a pitch for the team in 2012, while Montero at least put in a full season even though it was nothing to write home about. In 2013, Montero fell apart, was sent to the minors, and spent 6 weeks on the DL. Pineda still was battling injuries and the team got nothing from him in 2013. It was looking like both teams got hosed. In 2014, Montero showed up in spring training 40 pounds overweight, while Pineda had an impressive camp and made the starting rotation. A suspension for pine tar and another stint on the DL aside, Pineda is looking like the pitcher the Yankees hoped they were getting in 2012. If this keeps up, it will have been worth the wait.
INJURY UPDATES: Jacoby Ellsbury (sprained ankle), status: day to day.
POST-SEASON HUNT: This club took forever to get beyond the 5 games above .500 mark — now they’re stuck on a high-water mark of 7 above. Today’s loss drops them back to 6 games over at 70-64.
Today in Yankees Baseball History
MEMORY LANE: On today’s date in 1986, Tommy John, 43, and Joe Niekro, 41, pitched a doubleheader for the Yankees against Seattle to become the first 40-plus teammate combo to start a doubleheader since Sept. 13, 1933, when the Chicago Cubs’ Sam Jones, 41, and Red Faber, 44, pitched against the Philadelphia Athletics. John lost the opener and Niekro won the second game, 3-0.
On August 30, 1996, the Yankees traded a player to named later (Chris Corn, minors) to The Pittsburgh Pirates for Charlie Hayes.
In 1922, after hitting number 28 in the first inning, Babe Ruth argues too strongly over a called strike on his next at bat, and he is thrown out of the game. He is suspended for the fifth time of the year and is out for three days.
SOURCES: TodayInBaseballHistory.com, Baseball-Reference.com
