A.J. Burnett walks to the dugout after being taken out of the game by manager Joe Girardi (28) as catcher Russell Martin, Alex Rodriguez, third from right, Derek Jeter, second from right, and Robinson Cano (24) watch on the mound in the fifth inning after giving up a two-run home run and a single yesterday. (AP)
Yankees starter A.J. Burnett had given up four runs on nine hits in four-plus innings and was getting hit hard in the fifth. Manager Joe Girardi seemed to have little choice but to yank the right-hander — again.
But Burnett wasn’t thrilled with the hook, thinking he deserved more leeway.
“Joe does what he can to get this team a win, and we won,” Burnett said after the 6-4 victory over the Twins. “Heaven forbid I give up a couple hits. But you do whatever you can to get your team a ‘W,’ I guess.”
Asked if it was disappointing to not get through the fifth despite being staked to a 5-0 lead, Burnett said: “I didn’t get through the fifth because I wasn’t allowed to get through the fifth. So it wasn’t that I couldn’t get through the fifth.”
The no-decision left Burnett, who seemed more bemused than angry about the early exit, with just two wins in his past 14 starts.
“No matter who says what, I’ve still got confidence in myself and that’s all that matters,” said Burnett, who is 10-11 with a 5.28 ERA.
The right-hander added he did not feel the need to plead his case with Girardi to stay in the game.
“No, that’s irrelevant,” he said. “He saw an opportunity to keep his team in the ballgame. That’s what Joe does. We don’t have to agree with the moves. That’s why we’re not the manager.”
Girardi said, “He was great for three innings. He made a mistake 0-2 to [Chris] Parmelee. And then he lost his [arm] slot, which is what seemed to happen.”
For the first three innings, it didn’t seem like Girardi would have to make that decision. Burnett did not give up a run and struck out seven. Parmelee started the fourth with a solo homer, but Burnett escaped further damage despite giving up two more hits and a walk.
In the fifth, Trevor Plouffe led off with a single, Michael Cuddyer homered and Parmelee doubled, prompting Burnett’s exit.
“I thought I was nasty,” said Burnett, who was also pulled early in his last start against the Twins, when he gave up seven runs in 1 2/3 innings on Aug. 20. He also denied being displeased with Girardi after that outing. “My curveball was not as aggressive in the strike zone after the third inning.”
Still, Burnett thought he had more in him yesterday.
“Who’s to say I wouldn’t have got it back?” Burnett said. “I felt very strong and had a couple of hiccups.”
Those hiccups were more than enough for Girardi.