Kuroda, Phelps and Nuno solidify a banged-up rotation

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Solid outings from David Phelps and Vidal Nuno and a terrific one from Hiroki Kuroda doesn’t erase all the anxiety surrounding the Yankees’ rotation that quickly went from strength to suspect when Ivan Nova got hurt, Michael Pineda was suspended and then injured and CC Sabathia became a puzzle.

Nuno, who had been a bullpen killer in three previous starts, picked up his first win in Wednesday night’s 9-2 win over the Angels, allowing just one run in 6 ¹/₃ innings.

Watching Phelps, Kuroda and Nuno (1-0) pitch effectively in the series against the Angels at least has instilled a small amount of confidence.

In his first start of the season Monday night, Phelps allowed a run and three hits in 5¹/₃ innings of what turned out to be a 4-1 loss.

“He was outstanding,’’ manager Joe Girardi said of Phelps, whose next start is Sunday in Milwaukee against the Brewers, who began Wednesday night with the second-best record (22-12) in baseball. The Tigers were first at 19-9. “He had command of all his pitches.’’

If Phelps was outstanding, Kuroda was better and should have been the winner Tuesday evening when the right-hander worked 7²/₃ innings and allowed three runs (one earned, thanks to a Yangervis Solarte throwing error).

“The slider was real good,’’ Girardi said of the 39-year-old Kuroda, who entered the game 0-2 with a 6.61 ERA with in his previous three starts and hearing whispers he might have reached the end of the line. “Once he gets the slider going we will see the Kuroda we are used to seeing.’’

Nuno is in the rotation for Nova and Phelps came out of the bullpen, where he was pitching effectively for Pineda, who foolishly got himself a 10-game suspension for loading his neck up with pine tar. Then, on April 29, Pineda suffered a Grade 1 strain of the teres major muscle, a muscle on the right side of the upper back. The Yankees said Pineda would be out three to four weeks.

Though Phelps’ spot is secure, Nuno could have been pitching for his starter’s status because Alfredo Aceves, who can start or relieve, pitched well Sunday after Sabathia couldn’t get out of the fourth inning against the Rays at Yankee Stadium.

In 5¹/₃ innings, the right-handed Aceves didn’t allow a run or a walk. He gave up three hits and fanned five in his first big league action of the season.


There will come a time when Girardi will ask David Robertson to get more than three outs, but the first week in May isn’t it. In the Yankees’ 4-3 win Tueday night, Girardi, with Robertson throwing in the bullpen, summoned Shawn Kelley to face Pujols with two outs and the Yankees leading, 3-2, and Trout on third.

Pujols laced a single that tied the score.

“It’s something I feel more comfortable [with], one inning right now,’’ said Girardi, who explained the groin injury that shelved Robertson earlier in the year didn’t play into the strategy. “It’s not forever. Once the season gets longer and there is a day off the next day it’s different.’’

Robertson worked the ninth and posted his fifth save in five chances with a perfect inning.


Nobody around the Yankees seems too concerned the first five weeks of Carlos Beltran’s career in pinstripes is an indication of what’s ahead for the switch-hitting outfielder, in the first season of a three-year, $45 million deal.

As alarming as the 3-for-29 (.103) slump Beltran was in after Tuesday night’s 1-for-3 game, the numbers were worse with runners in scoring position. In his 10 previous at-bats in the clutch, Beltran was hitless and was batting .143 (4-for-28) with runners in scoring position.


Kelly Johnson took early batting practice against bench coach Tony Pena and that was followed by Yankees pitchers taking BP in preparation for three interleague games in Milwaukee this weekend, where Masahiro Tanaka, Sabathia and Phelps will start and presumably last long enough to hit.


When the Yankees’ security retrieved Brian Roberts’ home run ball Tuesday night from the right-field seats, it marked the final box to be filled in. The Yankees got the ball for Dean Anna on his first major league hit and homer, the ball for Beltran, Johnson, Brian McCann and Roberts for their first Yankees homers and John Ryan Murphy’s initial big league homer and Yangervis Solarte’s first big league hit and homer.

“They gave it to me, and I will take it home,’’ Robert said of the ball that was secured by a Yankees fan among a sea of Angels supporters.