The smoke has drifted back into the Yankees’ universe and the mirrors are no longer cracked and scratched.
That’s right, the Smoke & Mirrors act that kept the Yankees afloat early in the season has returned following the All-Star break.
There are new names, but similar results. Gone is Vidal Nuno, the serial bullpen killer. In Nuno’s place is Brandon McCarthy, who was seven games under .500 this season when general manager Brian Cashman acquired him. Jettisoned is Yangervis Solarte, the king of Smoke & Mirrors across the first two months of the season and awful afterward. In his place is Chase Headley, who has played in three games for the Yankees without tasting defeat.
“It’s a lift for a team when you go out and get players who produce,’’ Joe Girardi said after McCarthy and Headley helped the Yankees to a 4-2 win over the lowly Rangers on Thursday afternoon at Yankee Stadium, where a crowd of 45,105 watched the Yankees’ third straight win and sixth in the seven games since the All-Star break.
McCarthy, who was 3-10 with a 5.01 ERA in 18 starts for Arizona, is 2-0 with a 1.45 ERA in three starts as a Yankee.
“I wanted more pressure and this situation with the Yankees I feel I have responded well,’’ said McCarthy, who gave up a run and four hits in six innings.
As a Diamondback, McCarthy stopped throwing a cut fastball because he wasn’t throwing it well. When he joined the Yankees, the pitch was added to his mid-90s fastball. While that has helped, he is pitching differently in other ways.
“The sequences are different to keep hitters off my pitches,’’ McCarthy said. “I am executing well and throwing with conviction.’’
Headley’s first three games couldn’t have been better. Hours after joining the club Tuesday, Headley delivered the game-winning single in the 14th inning. Wednesday he went 1-for-2 with a double in his first start. Thursday he went 1-for-4 with an RBI single in the fourth when the Yankees tied the score 1-1.
“Most importantly, three wins,’’ Headley said. “I feel pretty comfortable. It’s a little bit of a learning experience not knowing the pitchers. I am pretty happy where I am at. The collection in this clubhouse is much different anything I’ve played with.’’
Getting McCarthy and Headley weren’t blockbuster moves and didn’t cost the Yankees much. They remain three games behind the AL East-leading Orioles and moved one-half game ahead of the Mariners for the second AL wild-card spot.
“We know where we are and we know there is a long way to go,’’ said Girardi, whose club was five games back of the Orioles on July 13.
Thursday’s victory wasn’t all about the newcomers. Francisco Cervelli’s third double in two games scored Ichiro Suzuki from first in the fifth and Cervelli scored on Brett Gardner’s sacrifice fly. After J. P. Arencibia’s leadoff homer against Adam Warren in the seventh cut the lead to 3-2, Brian McCann delivered Carlos Beltran from first with an opposite-field double in the eighth.
Armed with a two-run lead, David Robertson recorded the final three outs for his 25th save in 27 chances.
“We have pitched extremely well and had some timely hitting,’’ Girardi said when asked about coming out of the break 6-1. “You put those two together and you are going to win.’’
In the six wins since the break, the Yankees’ have posted a 1.31 ERA and hit .275 (14-for-51) with runners in scoring position.
As for where Smoke & Mirrors falls into the equation, there is no way to measure it, but look at the names and the standings and it is real.
Additional reporting by Dan Martin