The electricity that had been lacking from Yankees pitchers — at least since the ALDS shifted to The Bronx — got turned on Tuesday in the sixth inning of Game 4.
David Robertson walked to the mound with the Yankees in a three-run hole and began throwing darts. By the time his night concluded, the veteran reliever had pitched 1 ²/₃ scoreless innings, striking out four and allowing just a walk in the Yankees’ 4-3 season-ending loss to the Red Sox.
It might have been another Yankees farewell for Robertson, who is headed to free agency in a few weeks.
Robertson’s first stint with the Yankees concluded after seven seasons in 2014, when he signed a four-year deal worth $46 million with the White Sox. He returned in July 2017, as part of the trade that also brought Todd Frazier and Tommy Kahnle to the Yankees.
Robertson would like to think he is part of this team’s future.
“But I don’t know what’s going to happen in the next few months,” he said. “I will wait and see. Literally I just have to wait and see what happens. I have to look out for what’s best for me.”
The Yankees can’t complain about Robertson’s work in this postseason. Overall, he pitched 3 ²/₃ scoreless innings in three games.
Robertson struck out four straight batters in the sixth and seventh innings Tuesday after lefty Zach Britton had pitched two innings and allowed one run.
Overall, the bullpen foursome of Britton, Robertson, Dellin Betances and Aroldis Chapman gave the Yankees their best chance of beating the Red Sox in this series. But disappointing starting pitching and lack of offense never gave the Yankees’ power relief arms enough of a chance to make a difference.
Betances pitched 1 ¹/₃ scoreless innings on Tuesday, in which he struck out three batters. Chapman followed with a scoreless ninth to keep Boston’s lead at 4-1, but the Yankees couldn’t complete the rally in their final at-bat.
“We played a real hard season, finished winning 100 games and we get to this point and we just couldn’t finish off the season against the Red Sox,” Robertson said. “It’s tough.”
Robertson reached the postseason for the sixth time in his Yankees career. He ranks third on the Yankees’ all-time list for appearances by a pitcher (501). Only Mariano Rivera (1,115) and Dave Righetti (522) have appeared in more games as a Yankees pitcher.
