The Yankees continued to stretch convention in trying to stretch Joba Chamberlain out for his transition from the bullpen to the rotation.
So Wednesday night's innovation had Chamberlain heading back to the bullpen after arriving from it 1 1/3 earlier -- and passing Mariano Rivera, who entered the game -- along the way. Chamberlain got his 55 pitches in -- the amount the Yankees prescribed for this portion of the program -- but Andy Pettitte had been too effective early and Rivera has been too dominant late for the rookie to get them all in during the Yankees' 4-2 win over Baltimore.
So Chamberlain threw 28 pitches in the game, then 27 in the bullpen after he was done.
Chamberlain acknowledged "it was weird" to reporters but overall felt OK. Manager Joe Girardi said the Yankees will talk Thursday about whether Chamberlain can make the next step and take injured Ian Kennedy's spot in the rotation Tuesday.
If so, Chamberlain can finally deal with a more consistent routine.
YANKEES 4, ORIOLES 2: Jason Giambi hit his second homer in two nights, Andy Pettitte won his second consecutive start, Joba Chamberlain got some work in and the Yankees avoided a sweep in Baltimore. Pettitte limited the Orioles to two runs in 6 2/3 innings.
