CC Sabathia’s contributions on the mound have been minimal this season, due to a right knee problem that hasn’t allowed him to pitch since May 10. Nevertheless, he has played a big part in the success story being written by Dellin Betances.
“After that game in 2011 when I first came up, he sat and talked to me,” Betances said before the Yankees’ 6-4 win over the Blue Jays Thursday night at the Stadium. “Ever since then we have exchanged text messages during the winter and [he] has always given me good advice.’’
“That Game’’ was a nightmare for Betances. The native New Yorker made his major league debut at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 22, 2011 in relief against the Rays and gave up two runs, four walks and hit a batter.
Considering Betances has been so good this season in the first 2½ months that he’s in the All-Star conversation, it’s hard to believe he’s the same pitcher.
The following two seasons weren’t easy for Betances, but Sabathia never abandoned him.
“We talk about how to pitch certain guys and he tells me to have confidence,’’ said Betances, who is 4-0 with a 1.51 ERA, a .134 batting average against and has fanned 70 in 41 ²/₃ innings. “He told me that you need a presence to show [hitters] you belong.’’
Manager Joe Girardi said he doesn’t know when Carlos Beltran’s right elbow will allow him to return to right field. Ever since coming off the disabled list on June 5, Beltran has been limited to DH duty because of a bone spur.
Beltran is on a throwing program in which the distance and intensity have been increased.
“We told him if he feels something, stop it, so I don’t have a [return] date,’’ said Girardi, who is using a platoon of Alfonso Soriano and Ichiro Suzuki in right.
Beltran was 7-for-40 (.175) since coming off the shelf, but went 1-for-3 with two RBIs Thursday night.
“I feel better,” he said. “Every day I work on my approach and rhythm in the cage, and try to take the work in the cage to the game.’’
Because Edwin Encarnacion’s contact with Mark Teixeira wasn’t intentional, the Yankees didn’t get two outs on Dioner Navarro’s pop in the sixth inning that Teixeira caught. Originally, first base ump Chris Conroy ruled Navarro and Encarnacion out.
According to crew chief Jerry Meals , Navarro was awarded first base because on a “fair batted ball he goes to first base. The ball is dead.’’
With the Blue Jays throwing a right-hander for the second time in three games, Girardi used the left-handed hitting Kelly Johnson at third. Though Girardi hasn’t announced a platoon at third, it was looking that way since slumping switch-hitter Yangervis Solarte started against lefty Mark Buehrle Wednesday night.
What Girardi does Friday night against Orioles right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez isn’t certain because Johnson left Thursday’s game in the sixth inning when he fouled off a bunt attempt that the fingers on his left hand. X-rays were negative.
“I think he’s in a good groove and swinging the bat well,’’ Girardi said of Johnson, who started four of the previous five games and was 5-for-11 (.454) with two walks. He went 0-for-2 with a sacrifice fly before leaving Thursday. “His at-bats have been really good. He went through a tough time and part of that was [due to] not playing regularly as he was at the beginning. He has gotten going again and that’s why he’s playing. We know Kelly is a good player and we said all along he’s going to help us, and that’s what he’s doing right now.’’
With the Brewers looking for a left-handed bat off the bench, they had a scout at Thursday’s game. Nevertheless, with Solarte ice cold, the Yankees may not be able to deal Johnson.
Solarte is hitless in 22 at-bats but did have a bases-loaded walk Thursday, but Johnson has been getting into a groove.
“Definitely getting some stuff to fall helps the confidence,” Johnson said. “Helps snowball things. Get to play more and getting consistent at-bats, getting some hits. Nothing too crazy.’’
Johnson filled in for Teixeira at first, but when Teixeira returned, Solarte was playing third and hitting well.
“Obviously, you want to play but when you’ve got guys that are swinging the bat as well as Solarte, or whoever it is, if you’re losing playing time because someone is doing that and you’re winning games, you’re happy to do that,’’ Johnson said. “But at the same time you want to be out there, especially when you’re feeling good.’’
With Vidal Nuno on the verge of being dropped from the rotation if he doesn’t quickly improve, Adam Warren has been mentioned as the most likely replacement, though Warren has spent the season in the bullpen and hasn’t worked more than two innings.
If Nuno gets beat up Saturday by the Orioles at the Stadium and Warren is the choice, Girardi said it’s possible to build Warren up without sending him to the minors.
“If you chose to do it that way you better have two long relievers,’’ Girardi said.
The Yankees will honor Tino Martinez with a plaque in Monument Park Saturday, and the former first baseman, who helped the Yankees win four World Series, said he is thrilled.
“Overwhelming is the only way I describe this honor,” he said. “I don’t have words to describe it. I loved playing for the Yankees. I loved winning championships. This is the biggest honor I have ever received in my career. When I first found out, I had tears in my eyes.
“I’ve now had three months to think about it. I have so much in my head, but I just want to tell everyone what a huge honor it was to put on the Yankees uniform and to actually play where all these greats have played before and win championships. Everybody in this building, the coaches, the fans, the players, is the reason why I’m here.’’
— Additional reporting by Kevin Kernan and Dan Martin.