Yanks: Whitley Wins Again

Whitley was excellent again tonight.   Pitching into the 8th for the first time ever, he only gave up 2 runs, and kept his ERA at an impressive 2.41.  He gave up 5 hits, one a homer, K'd 6 and walked none.  I don't know about you guys, but I think his new slider is heading toward plus, and he should maybe used it a little more after strike 2.   Both the slider and the change got swings and misses tonight.   Thornton came in and finally out of the 8th.   Then Kelley started the ninth, getting an easy out, then giving up a run on back to back doubles.  This made it 6-3 and a "save" situation, so Robertson had to come in.  This game was never in much doubt, and using Robertson when he could have gotten more rest seems like one of the little tragedies of the current saves system.

Speaking of which, both Ellsbury and Gardner made tremendous catches in the OF tonight, that kept it easy for Whitley.  But do they get saves?  No.  Actually, Ellsbury, who homered in the first, hurt his hip, on the catch and had to be lifted from the game and replaced by Ichiro, in some OF shuffling.

John Ryan Murphy was 2 for 4 with a double and a run, batting ninth.

Robertson came in and went Tanaka on the final two hitters K'ing both.

Btw, I wonder if Tanaka is having any effect on the efficiency of Whitley.   It's just great to get these kinds of back to back performances.   Now if we could get Kurodo some run support, we could maybe rise way over .500.

Also liking how often Betances and Robertson start batters off with their breaking pitches.   Goose wouldn't like it, but Sparky would.