A.J. Burnett hopeful of helping New York Yankees in ALDS Game Four – MLB News
A.J. Burnett has not been consistent this season and thus was initially scratched from New York Yankees’ post-season rotation for the second year running. However, a rescheduling of game one forced manager Joe Girardi to go against the flow and include Burnett
in the rotation.
Initially, CC Sabathia was scheduled to start game one and four, but with weather having the final say on Friday, September 30 as Sabathia was held back to start game three. Ivan Nova made his start in game one and Freddy Garcia performed the duties in game
two.
Detroit Tigers’ manager Jim Leyland, citing lack of depth in Yankees’ bull-pen, tactfully scheduled ace Justin Verlander for game three of the American League Division Series. Playing at Comerica Park after splitting the first two games at Yankee Stadium,
the Tigers were at an advantage. To prevent his team from an early crash, Girardi believed that Sabathia had the ability to keep the home-team at bay, but his decision did not pay off. Verlander outpitched Sabathia to send the Yankees on the verge of an exit
from the post-season.
Burnett will now attempt to keep the Yankees in contention for the pennant, if not the World Series. The last time Burnett featured in a post-season game, he blanked the Philadelphia Phillies. Now, with an 11-11 win-loss record during the regular season
to his credit, a similar performance cannot be expected.
Burnett came out against the Phillies in game two of the 2009 World Series, after Sabathia had lost the first game for the Yankees. A shut-out was just the perfect way to make his mark as a force to reckon with on the circuit, but he could not live up to
this reputation for long.
“I’m just going to go at it as a start,” Burnett said. “It’s my chance to get on the mound to be a part of something and to do what I can as long as I can, until Joe takes me out.”
Burnett expressed that he was hopeful of making the most of this opportunity and help his team reach the World Series. He added that he has got this chance after two years and a failure would not be helpful for his career.
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