04/14: Yanks Sweep Royals Out of Town
Posted by: James
Another win against the Kansas City Royals (who were outscored 30-15 in the series) has the Yankees over .500 (5-4) and 1 game back of the division leading Red Sox.
Randy Johnson pitched very well for the most part but had to leave the game after 5 innings. There was a lot of mystery surrounding Randy's sudden disappearance from the game as the radio announcers were pretty confused as to why he was taken out so quickly. For those who were wondering, his pitch count was at 87 for the game, which is a reasonable amount.
According to MLB.com,
Johnson had this to say about what happened:
I don't know about you guys but something seems a bit off here (and I don't just mean that the preceding story makes a point of mentioning his right shoulder while the MLB.com story specifically mentions the left shoulder.) I always get nervous when pitchers, esp. older pitchers, have to leave the game after 5 innings so maybe I'm thinking too much about it. I guess we'll see what happens in Randy's next start.
I was worried when they brought on Proctor but a quick look at the lineup and only two lefties were in the Royals lineup and Proctor does pitch to righties very well. Mike Myers did another great job out of the pen while both Tanyon Sturtze and Ron Villone gave up runs in each of their respective innings.
Other than that, the Yankees offense clicked early with Gary Sheffield teeing off on a pitch to give the Yankees a 1-0 lead in the first. The Yankees scored three more in the second that effectively won the game on Bernie and Cano singles and a Damon sacrifice fly. Bernie was 3 for 4 with an RBI (and got a well-deserved standing O for his 1200th career RBI), and two runs scored to end up 6 for 13 with two RBI and three runs scored on the homestand - not too shabby. They scored four more runs in the 8th on some big-time home runs from Giambi and Damon to put the nails in the proverbial coffin (this also sat down the warming Mariano and brought in Villone instead). Andy Phillips did get into the game...but as a defensive replacement in the 9th inning. All in all, the Royals were exactly what the doctor ordered to get the Yankees back to their winning ways (and ease the minds of a lot of nervous Yankees fans). Let's hope they can keep the streak going.
Randy Johnson pitched very well for the most part but had to leave the game after 5 innings. There was a lot of mystery surrounding Randy's sudden disappearance from the game as the radio announcers were pretty confused as to why he was taken out so quickly. For those who were wondering, his pitch count was at 87 for the game, which is a reasonable amount.
According to MLB.com,
Torre decided to make the pitching change because of a conversation Johnson had with pitching coach Ron Guidry after the fifth inning. Guidry talks to every starter after every inning.
"I don't think it was anything structural," Torre said. "He's just on schedule. He'll pitch whenever his day comes up. It's just a freak thing. He threw the ball real well. I was a little suspicious in the fifth inning because he dropped down on his slider, which hadn't been the case earlier in the game."
"I don't think it was anything structural," Torre said. "He's just on schedule. He'll pitch whenever his day comes up. It's just a freak thing. He threw the ball real well. I was a little suspicious in the fifth inning because he dropped down on his slider, which hadn't been the case earlier in the game."
Johnson had this to say about what happened:
Johnson initially scolded reporters for getting the story wrong, but then admitted to some stiffness — sort of.
"Just a little tired, stiffness in the shoulder, if you want to call it that," he said, adding a disclaimer that seemed to amuse him. "The right shoulder."
"I don't need to go out there every time and pitch seven, eight innings because you might like it," he said. "I might like it, but I also realize that the innings and the pitches that are going to be mostly counted on from me are going to be late in the year.
"So as much as I want to get my arm where it needs to be — that's what spring training is for — there's a time and a place to go out there and throw innings and pitches."
"Just a little tired, stiffness in the shoulder, if you want to call it that," he said, adding a disclaimer that seemed to amuse him. "The right shoulder."
"I don't need to go out there every time and pitch seven, eight innings because you might like it," he said. "I might like it, but I also realize that the innings and the pitches that are going to be mostly counted on from me are going to be late in the year.
"So as much as I want to get my arm where it needs to be — that's what spring training is for — there's a time and a place to go out there and throw innings and pitches."
I don't know about you guys but something seems a bit off here (and I don't just mean that the preceding story makes a point of mentioning his right shoulder while the MLB.com story specifically mentions the left shoulder.) I always get nervous when pitchers, esp. older pitchers, have to leave the game after 5 innings so maybe I'm thinking too much about it. I guess we'll see what happens in Randy's next start.
I was worried when they brought on Proctor but a quick look at the lineup and only two lefties were in the Royals lineup and Proctor does pitch to righties very well. Mike Myers did another great job out of the pen while both Tanyon Sturtze and Ron Villone gave up runs in each of their respective innings.
Other than that, the Yankees offense clicked early with Gary Sheffield teeing off on a pitch to give the Yankees a 1-0 lead in the first. The Yankees scored three more in the second that effectively won the game on Bernie and Cano singles and a Damon sacrifice fly. Bernie was 3 for 4 with an RBI (and got a well-deserved standing O for his 1200th career RBI), and two runs scored to end up 6 for 13 with two RBI and three runs scored on the homestand - not too shabby. They scored four more runs in the 8th on some big-time home runs from Giambi and Damon to put the nails in the proverbial coffin (this also sat down the warming Mariano and brought in Villone instead). Andy Phillips did get into the game...but as a defensive replacement in the 9th inning. All in all, the Royals were exactly what the doctor ordered to get the Yankees back to their winning ways (and ease the minds of a lot of nervous Yankees fans). Let's hope they can keep the streak going.
