Pasqua Helps His Team, Himself : Home Run and Single Aid Yankee DH’s Bid to Save Job

New York Yankee Manager Lou Piniella was just about fed up with Dan Pasqua and his .169 batting average.

In fact, going into Friday night’s game against the Angels, Piniella had considered changing the left-hander’s status from designated hitter to designated sitter.

Piniella had been patient with the second-year player, giving Pasqua more than enough at-bats to break out of his slump. But Pasqua’s performance in Wednesday’s 7-5 loss to the Oakland Athletics left Piniella with a queasy feeling in his stomach.

In five at-bats against three different pitchers, Pasqua went hitless, striking out three times and stranding five baserunners. One of his strikeouts came with the bases loaded and one out in the third inning after the Yankees had scored twice.

“You just can’t wait all year,” Piniella said after Wednesday’s game. “It’s getting about that time we start trying a couple of different things. Maybe we’ll give (rookie) Keith Hughes a chance.”

But somewhere between Oakland and Anaheim, Piniella decided to give Pasqua at least one more try. He started him against right-hander Mike Witt, one of the American League’s best pitchers.

Pasqua made the most of the opportunity by singling and scoring a run in the first inning and then capping a five-run second inning with a towering two-run home run to center field, to lead the Yankees to a 7-2 victory over the Angels in front of 50,110 in Anaheim Stadium.

Pasqua, who struck out in his final two at-bats, said afterward that he wasn’t really aware that his job was in jeopardy.

“I heard about it before the game, but it had no effect on me, none at all,” Pasqua said. “I feel a lot better up there. I just have to go back to basics. I have to throw mechanics out the window, go up there, see the ball, be aggressive and just hit it.”

Piniella didn’t want to get too excited about Pasqua’s night. He witnessed Pasqua’s game-winning, three-run homer against Seattle last Sunday and his subsequent dive against Oakland.

“He might not play tomorrow,” Piniella said. “I’m telling you . . . Nah, I’m just joking. You gotta stay with him. I’ve had confidence in him. I’ve played him all year.”

Don Mattingly, the Yankees’ 1.975-Million Dollar Man, continued his hot hitting against the Angels Friday night, collecting three hits, including a two-run homer to right-center field in the second inning.

It was the first baseman’s 14th multi-hit game of the season. Mattingly has hit safely in eight of his last nine games, going 17 for 37 with three doubles, three home runs and 12 RBIs to raise his average from .240 to .290, the highest it has been all season.

“He’s starting to swing the bat much better,” Piniella said. “He’s driving the ball. Hey, he’s a good hitter. He’s gonna hit.”