Three weeks ago, nobody considered Brian Bruney -- he of the 4.34 ERA and 130 walks in 182 1/3 innings in parts of five big-league seasons -- an indispensible member of the Yankees. But his absence Friday may have cost the Yankees a pivotal game against the rival Red Sox.
Mariano Rivera, who entered a save situation in the eighth inning for the first time this season, gave up a game-tying, two-run homer to Jason Bay in the ninth inning and Damaso Marte surrendered the winning home run to Kevin Youkilis with two outs in the 11th inning as the Red Sox knocked off the Yankees, 5-4, at Fenway Park. Rivera was forced into action so early because Bruney, who is 2-0 in eight appearances and has struck out 12 batters while allowing just three hits and two walks in eight innings, headed back to New York prior to the game due to discomfort in his right elbow. General manager Brian Cashman told reporters late Friday that Bruney will be examined Saturday morning and will rejoin the Yankees in time for the afternoon game.
Joe Girardi told reporters Bruney has had a sore elbow since Wednesday, but that he's hopeful it's nothing serious because Bruney was throwing in the mid-to-high 90s in his last appearance Tuesday. "He was still throwing 95, 97, which makes me feel better about the situation," Girardi said. "But we won't know until he gets checked out."
Jonathan Albaladejo, who got the last out of the seventh, opened the eighth and retired the first two batters he faced before he plunked Nick Green. His first pitch to Jacoby Ellsbury was a strike, after which Girardi called on Rivera, who underwent shoulder surgery after last season. Rivera allowed a single to Ellsbury before whiffing Dustin Pedroia to end the eighth and allowed a one-out single to Youkilis in the ninth to set up Bay's dramatics.
Girardi said he had no regrets about going to Rivera in the eighth because he felt Rivera provided a "better matchup" against Ellsbury than did Albaladejo. "Mo got him out and then was one out away from closing out this game," Girardi said. "It's unfortunate... but it's still just one game."
The Yankees can only hope it's the only one in which they won't be able to use Bruney.
RED SOX 5, YANKEES 4 (11 innings): Mariano Rivera surrendered a game-tying, two-run homer to Jason Bay with two outs in the ninth inning and Kevin Youkilis hit a titanic home run off Damaso Marte in the 11th as the Red Sox came back to beat the Yankees at Fenway Park. The Yankees had plenty of scoring opportunities against Sox starter Jon Lester and six relievers but were just four of 19 with runners in scoring position and left 15 runners on base. Derek Jeter, Johnny Damon, Mark Teixeira and Jose Molina all had two hits apiece for the Yankees, who scored twice each in the fourth and seventh innings. Joba Chamberlain escaped numerous jams over 5 1/3 innings, during which he allowed just two runs (one earned) despite giving up nine hits and four walks while striking out two.
