BALTIMORE — Phil Coke and Mariano Rivera. That recipe worked well yesterday for manager Joe Girardi, who leaned on his only two reliable relievers to protect a two-run lead across the final three innings against the Orioles.
PHOTOS: YANKS RALLY TO BEAT ORIOLES
After the Yankees clawed back to cop a 5-3 lead with four runs in the seventh, Girardi called for the left-handed Phil Coke. He responded with two shutout innings, going through the top six hitters and giving up just a single. Then it was time for Mariano Rivera.
When last seen Rivera was being lifted in the middle of the ninth inning Thursday night after surrendering consecutive homers to Carl Crawford and Evan Longoria at Yankee Stadium.
Working in his second straight game Rivera’s velocity was down to 89-90 mph. Yesterday, with two days’ rest, Rivera’s cut fastball pushed the radar gun consistently to 93 and he fanned Robert Andino looking at a 94 mph heater for the second out of the ninth.
“His stuff was much better and his velocity was good,” Girardi said of Rivera, whose walk of Felix Pie with one out in the ninth was his first of the season. “No matter who you are it’s good for your confidence.”
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Alex Rodriguez went 1-for-4 with a first inning single. After that he popped to center, flied to center and grounded out. In three games since coming back from the disabled list, he is 2-for-11 (.182).
“He is just missing balls,” said Girardi, who plans to use Rodriguez at third tomorrow night. “His timing isn’t going to be where everyone else’s is.”
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Andy Pettitte missed the last two games to be with his father, Tom, who underwent surgery. Pettitte is expected to rejoin the team and make a start Wednesday against the Blue Jays. Tom has a history of heart trouble, but the nature of the latest surgery wasn’t released.
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Chien-Ming Wang could be close to coming off the DL. Wang, who has been out since April 18 with hip troubles, will pitch for Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre tomorrow night and is slated to throw 100 pitches.
“We will see how he does, hopefully it’s very good,” said Girardi, who explained the plan is to go outing by outing and didn’t rule out the right-hander rejoining the rotation after tomorrow night’s start.
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Xavier Nady hopes to start swinging a bat Friday when the Yankees return home. To what degree is yet to be determined.
Out since April 14 with a ligament problem in the right elbow, Nady increased the exercise program to 15 curls yesterday.
“It feels good, I am doing everything and that’s encouraging,” Nady said. “Hopefully it feels good when I swing a bat.”