Talking on the field during batting practice yesterday morning Brian Cashman’s words delivered a positive message to members of the Yankees Universe whose nerves were raw due to the recent stretch of putrid play.
“Not worried at all,” the GM said of his reeling club. “We are up against great competition and we intend to keep our lead and we intend to win our division.”
For six innings against the second-place Orioles yesterday Yankee fans had to be terrified because Wei-Yin Chen limited the Yankees to a run and led by two.
However, a massive amount of pressure was released thanks to a three-run seventh that carried the Yankees to a 4-3 victory that was witnessed by a sun-splashed Stadium gathering of 46,122.
The victory may have come with a costly price because center fielder Curtis Granderson, the Yankees’ leading home run hitter with 34, left the game with a hamstring problem and was taken for an MRI.
The Yankees’ fourth victory in 11 games stretched their AL East lead over the Orioles to three and kept the Rays 4 ½ lengths back.
“We certainly have our hands full but it’s all about grinding it and not letting yesterday’s stuff affect you today,” Cashman said.
Four Yankee relievers didn’t allow a run in 4 1/3rd innings after starter David Phelps gave up three runs, three hits, six walks and hit a batter in 4 2/3rd innings.
Rafael Soriano recorded the final three outs for his 35th save.
The Yankees didn’t bat with a runner in scoring position until there were two outs in the seventh inning. That’s when Eduardo Nunez’ delivered a broken-bat single to center that scored Steve Pearce and cut the Orioles’ lead to 3-2.
Nunez, recalled yesterday when the roster’s increased from 25, was the final batter lefty Wei-Yin Chen faced. Hard-throwing right-hander Pedro Strop replaced Chen with Ichiro Suzuki ready to hit.
Ichiro Suzuki drew his third walk as a Yankee in 128 plate appearances to load the bases for Derek Jeter. Strop jumped ahead, 0-2, and then walked in Nix to tie the score, 3-3.
Nick Swisher followed Jeter and with the runners moving on a 3-2 count, his ground ball was bobbled by shortstop J.J. Hardy as Nunez scored to put the Yankees ahead, 4-3.