Wednesday night, manager Joe Girardi showed the baseball universe how important every out is to the Yankees these days.
With two on and two out in the eighth inning and Girardi believing CC Sabathia had had enough, the manager called for David Robertson with a five-run lead over the White Sox.
Normally, that’s Shawn Kelley, Boone Logan and Preston Claiborne territory. However, with the Yankees alive in the chase for the second AL wild-card ticket, Girardi went to Robertson.
And then held his breath as Robertson turned a five-run lead into a one-run edge and needed Mariano Rivera to bail him out in the eighth.
“I stunk and Mo had to pick me up,’’ Robertson said after Rivera retired all four batters he faced to save a 6-5 victory witnessed by an announced Yankee Stadium crowd of 36,082. It was just Robertson’s second appearance since Aug. 25.
The victory was the Yankees fifth in six games. They remained 2¹/₂ games behind Tampa Bay for the final wild-card spot. The Rays defeated the Angels, 3-1 Wednesday night in Anaheim
Rivera, who posted his 41st save, caught Alejandro De Aza looking at a 3-2 pitch to end the eighth with two runners on. In the ninth Rivera retired Chicago’s Nos. 2, 3 and 4 hitters for his 41st save.
“Sometimes I have to do it and tonight was one of them,’’ Rivera said of being used for more than one frame. “We need to do whatever it takes.’’
When Sabathia, who improved to 13-11, left the mound, TV cameras caught him mouthing words that can’t be printed here.
“I always hate leaving in the middle of an inning, especially with runners on base and leave Robby in a tough situation,’’ said Sabathia, who gave up two singles in the eighth and got a force out.
Sabathia made it clear he was ticked at himself and not Girardi for lifting him after 111 pitches.
“I am not at liberty to argue with him because of the way I have pitched this year,’’ said Sabathia, who thanks to Robertson allowing the two inherited runners to score was charged with three runs in 7 1/3 innings in which he gave up five hits and walked four.
Had the White Sox waltzed out of The Bronx with a victory, the Yankees would have entered a four-game series with the AL East-leading Red Sox tonight with a massive hangover. Instead, having swept the lowly White Sox, a split with their blood rivals won’t kill their postseason dreams. And winning three of four could move them past the Rays.
“We are still fighting, pushing,’’ said Rivera, who posted his first save in which he worked more than three outs since July 2011.
The pushing gets harder this weekend because the White Sox, outside of the eighth-inning last night, couldn’t offer much resistance.
Right-hander Erik Johnson gave up five runs (three earned) in six innings making his major league debut. His costly throwing error fueled a four-run Yankees fourth that gave them a 5-1 lead and included Brett Gardner’s two-run triple, Lyle Overbay’s RBI double and an RBI single from Robinson Cano, who homered in the first.
“Every game is a must win,’’ Gardner said.
Judging by the way Girardi went for the hammer in the eighth Wednesday night, so is every out.