(EPA)
Is one turn through the rotation that produces four clunkers enough data to support a claim that Yankees starters quickly have replaced the bullpen and bench as the best team in baseball’s biggest problem?
After carrying the Yankees across the first half, every starter but CC Sabathia has opened the second half with abysmal outings for various reasons.
A.J. Burnett’s snap resulted in a cut right hand. Andy Pettitte landed on the disabled list with a left groin problem. Phil Hughes was spanked Thursday night, and Javier Vazquez felt the same Angels’ paddle yesterday at Yankee Stadium following a strong beginning.
Thanks to a shaky but effective bullpen, three RBIs from Mark Teixeira and homers by Robinson Cano, Juan Miranda and Colin Curtis, Vazquez poached a 10-6 victory witnessed by a sweaty gathering of 47,521.
The victory enabled the Yankees to stay 21⁄2 games ahead of the second-place Rays in the AL East.
In the past four games, Yankee starters are 1-2 with a brutal 11.30 ERA. They have allowed 28 hits, six walks and hit two batters in 141⁄3 innings.
“I wish I had done a better job, but I let them get so [close],” said Vazquez, who was staked to a 6-0 lead after four innings, gave up three in the fifth and two in the sixth before being replaced by David Robertson. In five-plus frames, Vazquez allowed five runs and nine hits (two homers). “In the fifth and sixth innings I made some bad pitches.”
Following Hideki Matsui’s two-run homer in the sixth, which reduced the Yankees’ lead to 6-5, Robertson surfaced. After two singles and a walk, Robertson faced Howie Kendrick with the bases loaded and two outs. Robertson held his breath until Kendrick’s liner found Nick Swisher’s leather in right.
Joba Chamberlain took over for Boone Logan with two outs and a runner on first in the seventh. A walk and single later, Chamberlain had the bases juiced, but Kevin Frandsen grounded out to strand three more.
Chamberlain gave up a run and two hits in the eighth and Mariano Rivera recorded the final three outs in a non-save situation.
The Yankees led 10-5 entering the eighth because the little-used Curtis clubbed a three-run homer after taking over an 0-2 count from Brett Gardner, who was ejected by Paul Emmel for what the plate umpire said was too much arguing balls and strikes.
The left-handed hitting Curtis worked the count full and swatted his first big league homer.
“It was tough, but you want to get the guy in from third,” said Curtis, who was confused about what to do with the fans pleading for a curtain call. “Fortunately, I got into a good count and got a good pitch to hit.”
Curtis said a Yankees security official retrieved the souvenir ball from the fan who caught it — in exchange for a ball signed by Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez.
“I had to ask them for autographs after the game,” Curtis said of the Yankees stars.
Because these are the Yankees, every day the needs get recalibrated. Since they scored 10 runs, collected 15 hits (three each by Teixeira and Jeter) the call for a bat subsided last night.
The bullpen allowed six hits and two walks but just a run in four frames, so that issue was draped in silence.
And just because GM Brian Cashman believes there isn’t a hole in the rotation, that can change between today and July 31, the trading deadline.
Adding to the questions surrounding the rotation is the next four games will be started by Sabathia, Burnett, Sergio Mitre and Hughes, who admitted yesterday he is having trouble pitching at the Stadium.
george.king@nypost.com