Nick Swisher wanted to reward Hiroki Kuroda’s effort, which included six no-hit innings against the Rangers. But the Yankees couldn’t get much going their way, either. Finally, the Rangers went to the bullpen and brought in Alexi Ogando to face Swisher with one on, one out in the seventh.
Swisher saw a steady diet of fastballs. Real high-octane fastballs.
“I was hitting on sound at that point,” Swisher said Tuesday, who one night before had delivered the 200th homer of his career. “He was throwing 100 mph but he’s one of those guys, he’s got an arsenal of pitches. But you’ve got to do what you can to stay on that fastball.”
Swisher fell behind 0-2, worked the count to 2-2 when Ogando went with a slider.
“I saw a little spin coming out and I had seen nothing but a white blur coming at me. When I saw the spin I felt it was going to be inside and I kind of froze,” Swisher admitted.
But Ogando missed, running the count to 3-2 and then Swisher crushed a 98 mph fastball into the Yankees bullpen to deliver the runs they wanted so desperately to support Kuroda in an eventual 3-0 victory over Texas.
“Hiro had that no-hitter going into the seventh and I was like, ‘Man, we need to put some runs on the board in case he gets to it,’ ” Swisher said.
Kuroda didn’t get his no-hitter, but the Yankees got the offense they needed — so No. 201 might not have been as personally significant for Swisher as No. 200, a grand slam, but it was just as important to the Yankees. Swisher slugged both homers from the No. 2 spot in the lineup, a job he absolutely loves.
“I’ve had a taste pretty much of every spot since I’ve been here,” Swisher said. “I feel as of late I’ve kind of been that on-base guy. I’ve drawn a ton of walks, I really feel I’ve seen a lot of pitches and I feel that’s really helped me get back in the groove. I just feel it’s a good spot for me. I like being there … The biggest thing everybody wants is that set lineup. So when you show up every day you know what the lineup is going to be.”
Said manager Joe Girardi, “He’s been really good there for us. The two-run homer was a tremendous at-bat. There was a 2-2 slider and Swisher laid off it.”
Hitting anywhere for the Yankees is a job Swisher wants to keep forever, so he tries to block out all thoughts of his upcoming free agency.
“This place has been so amazing for me and revitalized me,” he said. “So I don’t really think about that because I want to enjoy every second I have, just in case this could be the last … I love this place, man. It fits me. Organization, teammates, fans. It’s been amazing.”