During the 2018 Yankee Season Summer Marathon, the starting rotation became a basic jigsaw puzzle. With injuries and inconsistency abounding, the Yankees approached the trading deadline determined to find pieces to fit.
Backers clamored for Michael Fulmer, demanded Jacob deGrom, might have settled for Cy Young. So the Yankees went out and reeled in Lance Lynn and J.A. Happ to solidify the rotation. Nice catches, it turns out.
On Tuesday, Happ was all anyone could have wanted as his record remained perfect in pinstripes. That’s tough to do in an atmosphere where patience generally is measured in nanoseconds.
“It’s just part of the team aspect,” Happ said of helping a bruised rotation. “We’re always trying to pick each other up no matter what the situation. I came to be a part of it and to help any way I can. Good team win for sure.”
But in the 4-1 victory over the Rays at the Stadium, the 35-year-old lefty was the standout, winning his third straight start as a Yankee, carving out seven scoreless, one-hit innings with four strikeouts. Four walks and a hit batter, all harmless, were the worst blemishes. He was as advertised.
“He’s really good, first and foremost,” said manager Aaron Boone who used the term “clinic” to describe Happ’s 106-pitch effort. “You saw a guy really in command of his pitches, his emotions, the ability to just get back on the mound and repeat his delivery so well. Just a real quality outing from a really good pitcher.”
Help obviously was required. Jordan Montgomery was injured early. Reinforcements in the form of Jonathan Loaisiga and Domingo German wounded up infirmed as well. Sonny Gray was inconsistent when not ineffective.
Happ (13-6) has remedied much of what has been so troublesome. In 19 innings as a Yankee, Happ has a 1.89 ERA.
“He makes it real easy. He commands his fastball. He stays aggressive with his fastball. He’s coming at you. He works in and out really well, moves the ball really well,” said catcher Austin Romine, whose two-run homer supported Happ. “His past three outings have been exactly what we needed.”
Happ mowed down 11 of the last 12 batters he saw, including 10 straight at one point. The only hit he allowed, a single by C.J. Cron, did not arrive until the fourth inning.
“Felt better as the game was going on, was able to throw more of the pitches for strikes,” Happ said, noting he mainly was “trying to keep it going, trying to pound the zone.”
Both in and out.
“It gives me a lot of confidence to use multiple pitches. That’s always the goal. Don’t always have that but tonight, especially later in the game, I felt like I did,” said Happ, who has embraced the atmosphere since coming from Toronto.
“It’s motivating to pitch in Yankee Stadium. It’s motivating to be on this team, be in a pennant race. Heck yeah, this is fun.”
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