The availability and effectiveness of the Yankees’ closer in the biggest game of their season may be an issue tonight.
Last night, Rafael Soriano worked more innings and threw more pitches than he has in years, logging two of the former and firing 43 of the latter in the Yankees’ 4-3, 12-inning comeback win over the Red Sox in The Bronx. It’s customary that it’s all hands on deck for Game 162, so you would imagine Soriano would certainly attempt to be available to pitch tonight. But that’s no sure thing.
And even if Soriano is available, will his arm or body be fatigued from last night’s effort and thus lose effectiveness?
“Hopefully he feels OK [today],” manager Joe Girardi said, explaining he had no hesitation using Soriano for two innings last night. “If I need him, but I’ve said it all along and I’ll say it again: We’re trying to win the division, we’re trying to win the division. Hasn’t worked a lot lately and he said he was OK.”
Girardi is right that Soriano — who did not speak to the media after the game — has only pitched three times since Sept. 21. But to be fair, he also has pitched three times in the last five days (albeit the first outing was an eight-pitch appearance on Friday). Soriano then threw 17 pitches on Sunday before his 43-pitch marathon last night.
Should Soriano be unavailable tonight, the Yankees’ closer would presumably be David Robertson. The righty worked a perfect eighth inning last night with two strikeouts, and hasn’t allowed a run in his last seven appearances. However, Robertson has also worked four of the last five days.
Soriano was not very effective last night, as he allowed a solo homer, a single and a walk in his two innings. He actually put the Yankees in a 3-1 hole to start the ninth inning, as he surrendered James Loney’s leadoff homer to right. Soriano then gave up a single before retiring the next three Red Sox.
In the 10th, Soriano issued a one-out walk to Dustin Pedroia but never permitted him past first base.
Giving up home runs remains a worrisome issue for Soriano, who has served up five in his last 15 appearances — not a good sign for someone unproven in this role as a Yankee in the postseason.
The last time Soriano threw two innings was on June 19, 2010. The last time he threw at least 43 pitches was back on Sept. 25, 2005 when he threw 44. That’s his career-high in relief.
— Additional reporting by Dan Martin.