Yankee Bullpen Really Pitches In

Right from the start, Mike Stanton made this odd-looking move pay off.

Forced to find a replacement for ailing Ramiro Mendoza, the New York Yankees plucked Stanton from the bullpen Sunday. In his first major league start, he pitched four scoreless innings in a 6-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners.

In a curious scene, the opening pitch of the game was thrown from a stretch position. Stanton went on to give up only two hits in his first pro start since 1990 while at double-A Greenville.

“The only weird part was standing out there on the mound for the anthem,” he said. “It was definitely out of the norm for me.”

Stanton made 552 consecutive relief appearances from the beginning of his career until his first start, breaking the major league record of 443 set by Gary Lavelle for the San Francisco Giants before he started on Aug. 26, 1981.

Stanton matched his career high for innings, but did not get credit for the victory because he did not last through the fifth. Jason Grimsley (4-0) got the win, also pitching four strong innings.

Stanton struck out three, walked one and gave the Yankees exactly what they needed, especially with Mendoza slowed by a viral infection and Roger Clemens on the disabled list.

“There are times when the starters suck up innings for the relievers when we’re tired,” Stanton said. “This is one where it worked the other way around. We took one for the starters, and it came out good for us.”

Rather than call up someone from the minors--and with a day off today--the Yankees decided to split the pitching chores among their relievers. Interim Manager Don Zimmer hoped to get three innings from Stanton, and the 31-year-old lefty did him one better.

Grimsley replaced Stanton and gave up only one hit, striking out five. Mariano Rivera completed the combined three-hitter.

“Their bullpen did a good job today, all nine innings,” loser Jeff Fassero said.

Zimmer said Yankee General Manager Brian Cashman had wanted to bring up a pitcher from triple-A Columbus, just in case. Zimmer and pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre convinced him otherwise.