New York Yankees’ journey in the 2011 MLB season – Part 11
Girardi had not been very worried about the Yankees inconsistent performance in Spring Training than he started feeling after losing 2-6 to the weaker Baltimore Orioles just five games before the 2011 regular season.
Up next was the competition with the Toronto Blue Jays and the Yankees were under psychological pressure of the defeat they had received on March 18.
Game 27 of Spring Training: Robinson Cano shatters losing spell to take Yankees to 5-3 win
It seemed as if the Yankees’ batting would never be able to generate any special performance, as they struggled immensely in the first half of the outing against the Blue Jays’ Jo-Jo Reyes. However, Robinson Cano was looking for an opportunity and he grabbed
the one that the Blue Jays’ relief pitcher David Murphy granted in the bottom of the sixth inning.
The club was 0-3 down when Robinson Cano and team-mates made a perfect combination and scored four vital runs to bring it to 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning. The club then added one more run in the bottom of the eighth to finalise the game at 5-3.
Mariano Rivera had established his perfect momentum and he was ready to close down the games in the regular season. Until now, Ivan Nova and Freddy Garcia had achieved enough confidence to be nominated to the free spots.
"Now we're getting to the point where we just have to sit down and have a long meeting," Girardi said.
There were still four games to go that provided the Yankees’ bullpen to perfect their hitting.
Game 28 of Spring Training: Ivan Nova clears doubt as Yankees beat Houston Astros 6-4
Ivan Nova tossed two runs on three hits, struck-out two batters over his six innings to snatch the second outing and cemented his position in the final rotation. After the perfect spring, Nova was looking to be rewarded very soon.
"I thought he battled," Yankees’ manager Joe Girardi said. "He's had some time off. Figured out a way to get through six innings when his stuff was not extremely sharp.”
After the outing, Girardi announced Nova as the starting pitcher in one of the two open spots. Girardi was also satisfied with the batting line-up as the bullpen touched 12 hits over their 33 at-bats. Brett Gardner and Eric Chavez struggled to touch a ball,
launched homers to help the club gain their second back-to-back win.
Derek Jeter, Ramiro Pena, Russell Martin and Jesus Montero each made a hit. Robinson Cano made a hit in the second straight outing. Girardi was aware now his bullpen has achieved their required batting practice.
Game 29 of Spring Training: Alex Rodriguez dominates as Yankees win third consecutive
In the crucial outing against the Pittsburgh Pirates at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, on March 26 the Yankees’ master slugger Alex Rodriguez launched his sixth homer of Spring Training and took the club to a 4-2 win.
In the first inning, when the fans were not even completely settled in their seats, Rodriguez entered the plate. Kevin Correia of Pittsburgh tossed a flat pitch that Rodriguez launched for a two-run shot. The hit satisfied Girardi about his batting line-up.
It was his fifth homer in the last eight games.
With three consecutive wins, Girardi and the fans associated some more expectations with the Yankees’ batting. Only two outings of Spring Training were left and the Yankees were sure to name the players that were to make up their final rotation for the regular
season.
Continued in Part 12
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
Tags: