Darrell Rasner was supposedly headed back to Triple-A Scranton regardless of how well he pitched yesterday. But a strong performance against the Mariners may have changed the Yankee organization’s thinking.
“I talked to Joe [Torre] after the game and said we’ll sit back and analyze this,” GM Brian Cashman said after the Yankees’ 5-0 victory over Seattle.
The team needs roster space with right-hander Matt DeSalvo set to make his major league debut tonight. If the Yankees elect to keep Rasner, that could mean a demotion for rookie Kei Igawa, who has struggled with consistency. But demoting Igawa would leave the Yankees without a starter for Thursday against Texas.
Rasner pitched 52/3 shutout innings yesterday, allowing three hits and two walks. He is 1-1 with a 2.75 ERA in four starts for the Yankees this season.
“When he gets the ball down, he can frustrate a ballclub,” Torre said. “That was a big lift today.”
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Cashman, citing the fact he had not spoken to orthopedist Dr. James Andrews, had nothing to announce regarding the status of Carl Pavano. But Torre provided a hint that options other than surgery are being considered for Pavano, who is on the disabled list with soreness in his right forearm.
“We’re talking about starting a throwing program again and going out there and trying to pitch,” Torre said. “He’s not sure at this point in time about shutting it down.”
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Hideki Matsui went 2-for-4 and recorded the 2,000th hit of his professional career (1,390 in Japan, 610 for the Yankees) with a sixth-inning double.
Matsui will be honored as a member of the Japanese “Golden Players Club” for the achievement. He is the 46th member of that club and was presented a jacket by Japanese baseball legend Masaichi Kaneda after the game.
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The results of Phil Hughes’ left hamstring MRI were encouraging for the Yankees. Torre called it a “very mild” hamstring injury and said the rookie might return sooner than the 4-6 weeks originally anticipated.
Hughes threw on flat ground before yesterday’s game.
Robinson Cano received a day off just to get Miguel Cairo a start at second base. Cairo got his first hit of the season and went 2-for-4.