YANKEE NOTES
Cory Lidle was placed on the bereavement list to attend the funeral of his grandmother, and righty reliever Brian Bruney had his contract purchased from Triple-A Columbus for yesterday’s game.
Lidle will return to make his start Monday in the series finale against Boston.
Bruney worked garbage time in yesterday’s 12-2 loss to Baltimore, showing off 97-mph heat and striking out the side after issuing a two-out walk.
“It’s not something I shoot for,” Bruney said of the punchouts. “Just doing my job as quick as I can.” According to a club official, teams must receive Major League Baseball approval to put a player on the bereavement list. The player must miss a minimum of three consecutive days and a maximum of seven days, the official said.
Bruney was signed by the Yankees to a minor-league contract on July 1 and was 1-1 with three saves and a 3.14 ERA in 11 relief appearances with Columbus this season (141/3 IP, 10 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 8 BB, 22 K). The 24-yearold pitched in four games for the Diamondbacks’ Triple-A Tucson club in 2006 and was 0-1 before being placed on the disabled list on April 14 with a right elbow strain. He was released by Arizona on May 24.
He appeared in 77 big-league games with Arizona from 2004-05 and owns a 4-7 record with a 6.17 career ERA. Triple-A manager Dave Miley called Bruney around 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday and informed him he was getting promoted.
Bruney had to return to the ballpark to grab his gear.
*
Andy Phillips, who replaced Alex Rodriguez at third in the seventh, strained his left rib-cage muscle during a ninth inning at-bat. It wouldn’t be shocking to see Phillips go on the DL.
“I tweaked it on the first swing when I overswung a bit,” Phillips said. “I felt it pull.” Joe Torre tentatively plans to play Jorge Posada in today’s doubleheader opener, tomorrow and Sunday night. Sal Fasano is slated for duty tonight and on Monday afternoon.
*
Sidney Ponson (4-5, 5.82) said he won’t alter his pitching approach for Fenway Park when he takes the hill in tonight’s doubleheader finale. In 18 career starts against the Sox, he’s 3-10 with a 6.37 ERA.
“My thing is throw sinkers, get ground balls,” Ponson said. “They hit the ground ball, they won’t get to the Green Monster.
“I didn’t see a ground ball leave the ballpark yet. I try to make it as simple as possible.”
Additional reporting by George King.
BATTER UP
Yankees vs. Lester J. Johnson Beckett Schilling Wells Papelbon
Damon – .324 .250 .333 .306 .000
Jeter – .318 .333 .222 .317 .000
Abreu – .333 .147 .333 .429 .000
Giambi – .226 .600 .208 .300 .000
Rodriguez – .435 .000 .179 .338 .000
Posada – .276 .500 .370 .340 .000
Cano – .667 .500 .429 .500 .500
C. Wilson – .000 .500 .167 .333 –
Cabrera – .333 .250 .143 .333 .000
Williams – .225 .250 .286 .211 .000
Red Sox vs. Wang Ponson R. Johnson Mussina Lidle Rivera
Crisp .286 1.000 .333 .400 .235 .000
Loretta .333 .333 .136 .188 .167 .333
Ortiz .500 .441 .174 .227 .263 .333
Ramirez .667 .378 .250 .227 .421 .206
Youkilis .429 .333 .429 .143 .250 .333
Lowell .222 .000 .171 .556 .368 .250
Pena .000 – .000 – .500 –
Lopez .000 .333 .231 .320 .200 .267
Gonzalez – .400 .304 .083 .333 .000
Mirabelli .000 .333 .083 .417 .000 .000
