HOUSTON – Jorge Posada viewed it as a double switch, but manager Joe Girardi said he was taking advantage of Jose Molina’s strong throwing arm when he put Molina in the game for Posada in the seventh inning.
“Jose Molina has one of the best throwing arms in the game,” the Yankee manager said. “I felt it was the right move to make.”
It turned out to be a very good move when Molina threw out Ty Wigginton trying to steal second base in the ninth inning of a 2-1 Yankees win.
Posada, who threw out the speedy Michael Bourn attempting to swipe third in the sixth and really didn’t have chances on the four bags the Astros did swipe, insisted his right shoulder is fine.
“I am fine, I don’t know why you keep asking me,” said Posada, who missed 32 games with rotator cuff tendinitis. “There is nothing wrong, I am fine.”
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Mariano Rivera told Girardi he was available before last night’s game but the manager didn’t want to push it after his closer worked five of the previous six games.
“They told me I had a day off but I felt good,” said Rivera, who watched Kyle Farnsworth work the ninth and post his first save of the season and first since Sept. 19, 2006.
It was Farnsworth’s first Minute Maid Park appearance since giving up three runs in two innings of the NLDS in 2005.
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At 35-33 the Yankees are two games over .500. They haven’t been three games over this season. The last time they were two over was April 24 at 12-10.
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Girardi said he wanted more roster versatility playing in an NL stadium so Shelley Duncan was sent to SWB (Triple-A) yesterday and replaced by infielder Alberto Gonzalez.
However, Girardi admitted that Duncan didn’t produce when given the chance against lefties last month played a part in the decision.
“He played five or six games in a row against left-handers and didn’t swing the bat the way he is capable of,” Girardi said. “I thought he was a better hitter than he showed.”