Yanks fight back They rebound from big loss to pin one on Pirates
PITTSBURGH — Joba Chamberlain broke into the majors last season pitching like this for only one inning. Now that he's going much longer than that, the New York Yankees can only guess what kind of starter they might soon have.
Chamberlain was dominant in his first major league win as a starter and the Yankees bounced back from one of their worst losses of the season, routing the Pittsburgh Pirates 10-0 Wednesday night.
Derek Jeter went 3-for-3 and scored three runs, Bobby Abreu had a three-run homer among his three hits and Robinson Cano added a solo shot as the Yankees got 16 hits to shake off a 12-5 loss Tuesday that prompted manager Joe Girardi to say they "stunk."
"We were a lot better tonight, that was for sure," Girardi said.
Chamberlain couldn't have been much better while winning for the first time in five starts. He regularly hit 99 mph on the radar gun while striking out seven and walking one in 6 2-3 innings. He threw 114 pitches.
"There's been a lot of hype with this young man. Sometimes it's not easy to live up to the expectations, but he was really good," Girardi said. "He hasn't gotten caught up in all the stuff that goes with being Joba Chamberlain. We've stretched him out during the season, and that's not easy to do, but he welcomed the challenge and he looks really good."
Really good.
"He's throwing 97, 98 with a good breaking ball. That's tough," Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson said.
Chamberlain's longest previous start was six innings, but he was within one strike of pitching seven shutout innings. He had an 0.38 ERA in 19 games as a short reliever last season.
Chamberlain has a 2.03 ERA since making his first start June 3 — and the Yankees are 4-1 when he starts — but he didn't get a decision in any of those first four starts. He has allowed only two runs in his last 18 1-3 innings.
"It continues to get stronger and get better and everything went well," Chamberlain said. "Throwing strike one allowed my curveball and slider to work out well. Everything felt good and it's felt good for a while."
The Yankees, winning their ninth in 12 games, were helped by two throwing errors by the normally reliable Wilson while taking a 3-0 lead in the third against Zach Duke (4-5). Abreu and Cano both went deep in a four-run sixth against reliever T.J. Beam.
Jeter, whose 274 hits in interleague games are the most of any player, ran his hitting streak to 13 games with a double in the first. Abreu singled and both scored on what initially looked to be a double-play grounder by Jason Giambi to first baseman Adam LaRoche. Wilson threw wildly while making the return throw to first, with Giambi credited with an RBI and Abreu scoring on the error.
"If we get that play, it changes the game," Wilson said.
Jeter beat out a single to shortstop and moved to second when Wilson again threw wildly for an error to start the third, and Giambi had a run-scoring single. Jeter's RBI double in the fourth made it 4-0.
"They're a tough team, and I opened the door with a couple of errors and you can't do that," Wilson said.
The Pirates had several chances while getting six hits against Chamberlain, but didn't do anything with them.
With the Yankees up 2-0 in the second, Ryan Doumit was cut down at home plate by 10 feet on a strong throw by right fielder Abreu while trying to score from second on Wilson's two-out single, with Duke up next. Nyjer Morgan struck out with runners on first and third in the fifth, and reliever Ross Ohlendorf struck out Morgan after Chamberlain was lifted with two on in the seventh.
Notes: Pirates OF Xavier Nady, out since June 14 with a sore shoulder, might return today. ... Pirates LF Jason Bay, pulled in the seventh on Tuesday with tightness in his groin, was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the sixth.
