Blue Jays 8
Yankees 0
George Steinbrenner is expected in New York today and if The Boss gets around to Yankees business, his first question will be, “What happened to Jeff Weaver?”
When Weaver was struggling in May, Steinbrenner suggested Jose Contreras replace Weaver in the rotation. The way Weaver was booed at Yankee Stadium last night, The Boss will have a lot of supporters if he suggests Weaver be deleted from the rotation.
Of course, things are different now. Contreras is in Tampa with a right shoulder problem and a long way from being ready to pitch in the big leagues. However, the Yankees could promote Brandon Claussen from Columbus (Triple-A) to take Weaver’s spot and use Weaver in the bullpen. Claussen starts tonight for the Clippers. He could be cut short and ready to start Saturday in Fenway Park against the Red Sox.
After three solid outings and coming off what was probably his best effort in pinstripes against the Blue Jays, Weaver was rocked and absorbed an 8-0 defeat at the hands of the team he dominated on July 13 in Toronto. The mob of 51,958 started booing Weaver in the fifth when he gave up three runs and the razzing increased when Weaver was lifted by Joe Torre and replaced by Sterling Hitchcock. The game was stopped after 7½ innings because of rain.
In 41/3 innings, Weaver (5-8) gave up five runs and 11 hits. Eight days prior to last night’s beating Weaver dominated the muscular Blue Jays, limiting them to one run and four hits in eight innings. So much for Weaver going 2-1 with a 3.18 ERA in his three previous outings.
Last night was a struggle from the start when Weaver hit leadoff man Reed Johnson with an 0-2 pitch. Weaver pitched around that but gave up two runs in the fourth and three in the fifth when he was booed off the mound.
While Weaver was getting spanked, the Yankees had trouble against 6-foot-9 lefty Mark Hendrickson, a former NBA player with the Sixers, Kings, Nets and Cavaliers. Hendrickson, who was 0-1 with a 27.00 ERA in two games (one start) against the Yankees, was recalled from Dunedin (Single-A) yesterday and made his 19th start. He was sent to Dunedin to keep pitching on regular rest during the All-Star break. He is 6-6. In seven innings he allowed five runs.
It doesn’t get easier tonight for the Yankees since Roy Halladay, the AL’s hottest hurler, takes a 14-game win streak to the hill against Andy Pettitte, who has won six in a row.
The loss stopped the Yankees’ four-game winning streak and cost them a game in the AL East race with the Red Sox, who are three lengths behind the front-running Bombers.
The Blue Jays, who had dropped 14 of 19 overall, have won five straight against the Yankees at the Stadium. They swept a four-game series May 22-25. Vernon Wells homered twice to hike his total to 25.
