YANKEE NOTES
Kevin Brown wasn’t the only Yankees pitcher to rebound yesterday. Struggling reliever Tom Gordon looked like last year’s model instead of the pitcher who has made Yankee fans sweat.
Gordon worked a perfect eighth inning in a 6-0 win over the A’s and did it with a 96 mph fastball and curveball that froze hitters for years.
“He has been working real hard to rediscover the curveball that maybe he stayed away from,” Mel Stottlemyre said of Gordon, who entered with the Yankees leading, 2-0.
“You ask a lot of guys who throw a curveball, it’s a feel pitch. And when it’s not there, it’s not there,” said Gordon, who was using a cut fastball more than the curve. “You have to continue to work at it and get it into your mind that a pitch is starting to come. My curveball is definitely one of my best pitches, if not my best pitch.”
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Hideki Matsui drove in the Yankees’ second run with a single and had an infield single earlier but he has gone 104 at-bats since homering on April 8. That’s the longest streak without a homer in Matsui’s career, including his stint in Japan.
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With the Yankees six games under .500 the crowd has lost its patience with Jason Giambi. After walking in the second and fourth, the DH struck out looking in the sixth and swinging in the eighth. After both, the crowd booed Giambi, who is batting .203 and has 28 strikeouts in 74 at-bats. Giambi played in his first game since last Wednesday.
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With regular batting practice cancelled, Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Robinson Cano and Andy Phillips decided to take BP on the field. It paid off for Jeter (2-for-3) and Posada (upper deck homer), but Cano’s struggles in his first week in the majors continued when he went 0-for-4. He is batting .095 (2-for-21).
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Jaret Wright will have his right shoulder examined by Dr. Lewis Yocum today.
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When Ron Guidry surfaced in the clubhouse yesterday, speculation ran that Guidry was replacing Stottlemyre as pitching coach. However, Guidry informed the team two weeks ago he was going to be in the area for business and would stop by.
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LHP Randy Johnson (2-2; 3.74 ERA) opens a three-game series against the Mariners tonight vs. RHP Gil Meche (2-2; 5.35). Johnson (groin) missed one start. RHP Chien-Ming Wang (0-1; 4.85) faces RHP Aaron Sele (2-3; 5.18) tomorrow and RHP Carl Pavano (2-2; 4.17) draws LHP Jamie Moyer (4-1; 4.70) Wednesday.
