On a night the Yankees’ lineup didn’t bleed for every run, the team watched catcher Brian McCann leave in the sixth inning with a concussion.
The positive vibe provided by the offensive orgy, Esmil Rogers’ debut in the Yankees’ rotation, getting to seven games over even for the first time this season, and Derek Jeter moving into a sixth-place tie with Honus Wagner on the all-time hit list was dimmed after the 10-6 victory over the Indians in front of 43,972 at Yankee Stadium.
McCann took a foul tip from the bat of Mike Aviles off his mask in the third inning and exited in the sixth.
“I am not sure what it means,’’ Joe Girardi said when asked if the 7-day concussion disabled list could be in McCann’s future.
By the time McCann was hit with that foul tip, the Yankees had a 5-1 lead thanks to five runs in the first inning off Trevor Bauer.
The lead grew to 10-2 in the five-run sixth thanks to Carlos Beltran’s 11th career grand slam after the Indians intentionally walked Jacoby Ellsbury in front of the switch-hitter to load the bases.
Finally, the Yankees had a laugher. Yet, Shawn Kelley and Adam Warren combined to give up four runs in the seventh, and with the lead down to four runs in the ninth, Girardi called for Dellin Betances.
He provided a taste of drama by allowing a pair of two-out singles before striking out Nick Swisher for the final out.
Until McCann’s concussion and the game getting tight in the later innings, Rogers was the story. In his first start for the Yankees, the right-hander who was claimed on waivers from Toronto on July 31, allowed a run and four hits in five frames.
“I thought he did a really good job,’’ Girardi said. “He pitched Tuesday [one inning of relief] as well. That’s why we took him out. He did an outstanding job.’’
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The Yankees’ fifth win in six games enabled them to stay five lengths behind the sizzling AL East-leading Orioles, who have won eight of 11. The Yankees are one-half game back of the Royals for the second and final wild-card ticket.
And even on a day in which Jeter’s first-inning infield single was the 3,430th of his career, tying him with Wagner, the pitching was again the story.
Watching the way the Yankees have plucked pitchers from the scrap heap and turned them into viable arms makes you wonder if anybody has a number for Kei Igawa, a huge bust.
Meeting pitching coach Larry Rothschild has turned Brandon McCarthy, Saturday’s starter, from an awful Diamondback to unbeatable Yankee. Chris Capuano was loitering in the pitching-poor Rockies’ minor league system. As a Yankee, the lefty has been more than serviceable.
Now Rogers, who has made subtle mechanical changes under Rothschild, has provided a strong outing.
“My stride is a little longer and I am using my back leg a little more,’’ said Rogers, who made two relief appearances before filling in for the injured David Phelps.
However, the solid outing didn’t guarantee Rogers will stay in the rotation. Michael Pineda made his second rehab start Friday for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and could face the Orioles in Baltimore on Wednesday.
“I think there are a lot of things tied together here that we will try and unwrap and see what we do next,’’ Girardi said.
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