GAME 40: With the pitching ranks thin, the Yankees called up right-hander Chase Whitley for a spot start — and a much needed good one. He delivered. In 4 2/3 quick innings, the Alabama native kept the Mets off the board and mostly off the bases. He navigated sharply through the heart of the Mets order, striking out four while scattering two hits.
Whitley pitched himself nicely out of trouble in 3rd, but Joe Girardi didn’t give him the chance to do it again in the 5th. With Mets on second and third and two outs, a result of back-to-back walks to start the frame, Girardi made the Verizon Wireless call to the bullpen for Dellin Betances — who stranded the runners by inducing an Eric Young, Jr. groundout to third.
The game’s offense was provided by Alfonso Soriano, whose double deep to left-center in the top of the 7th scored Brian McCann all the way from first. 1-0 Yankees.
Command Performance by Betances
Betances followed with an absolutely dominating stint over the next two innings, striking out all 6 Mets he faced. His fastball hitting 98mph, and keeping hitters badly off balance with his now trademark breaking ball.
Adam Warren came on for the bottom of the 8th, struck out two in between allowing a walk and a single. With the tying run on third, Girardi brought in closer David Robertson, who ended the drama with a ground out to short. Robertson closed the books on the game with a 1-2-3 ninth.
Here’s tonight’s box score and a recap.
GAMEDAY NOTES: Carlos Beltran was placed on the 15-day DL today … Tonight’s contest featured the rare ocurrence of two starting pitchers each making their major league debut. The Mets brought up Angel’s Jared Weaver‘s separated-at-birth twin, Jacob deGrom, who also had an outstanding performance, not to mention a major league batting average of 1.000, with his 3rd inning single off Whitley. Which was payback for Whitley’s base knock in the top of the 3rd off deGrom … ROLL TIDE: Alabama’s Chase Whitley started it and ‘The Pride of Alabama’ David Robertson finished it …
MEMORY LANE: On today’s date in 1941, Joltin’ Joe DiMaggio hit a single against the Chicago White Sox to start his 56-game hitting streak. Joe D’s hit goes unnoticed as the Yankees lose 13-1 (Source: Today In Baseball History) The record stands to this day … Also on May 15th in 2004, The Los Angeles Dodgers traded Tanyon Sturtze to the Yanks for Brian Myrow (Source: Baseball Reference) …
