Yankee 21
08-28-2002, 10:56 AM
08/27/2002 10:22 pm ET
Wells makes himself at home
By Mark Feinsand / MLB.com
BOSTON -- David Wells has never cared for Fenway Park. With an 8-10 career record and a 5.62 ERA, the left-hander has had some tough times pitching against the Red Sox on their home turf.
Tuesday was not one of those times. Wells manhandled the Sox, hurling eight-plus shutout innings as the Yankees won 6-0 to increase their lead in the American League East to eight games.
"To shut these guys out, that's great," Wells said. "We had great defense, guys made some great plays and I made some good pitches to get out of some jams. It's nice to beat them because they're in second place. We want to try to put some more distance between us to feel a little more comfortable."
For the first three innings, Wells wasn't even the best pitcher in the game, as Sox southpaw Casey Fossum retired the first 11 Yankees he faced. But once the Yankees put up four runs in the fifth, Wells went into cruise control for the rest of the night.
His first and only true test of the night came in the second, when a Ron Coomer error and a single by Shea Hillenbrand put runners at the corners with no outs. But Wells made a nice play on a comebacker to the mound hit by Carlos Baerga, throwing out Manny Ramirez at the plate for the first out. A popup and a groundout later, and Wells was on his way to the dugout, still in a scoreless game.
"That was big," Wells said of the inning. "They threw one away, and it was my turn to pick them up. I looked at Ron, he felt bad, but I got out of it and we both smiled. That's what we have to do as a team -- pick each other up. They're going to make better plays for me more than I'm going to pick them up."
Said Sox catcher Jason Varitek: "He was able to stop the once chance we had early and from there he handled us. He just pitched very well, made quality pitches."
Wells allowed the leadoff batter to reach base three more times, twice on doubles, but Boston was unable to do anything with their runners in scoring position, going 0-for-11.
"That's his best of the year, especially since he had to get out of some jams," said manager Joe Torre. "It's not easy to pitch a shutout in this ballpark, especially when they start the inning with a man on second base. That's really tough to do, and he was certainly equal to the task."
Wells (15-6) has given the Yankees more than they could have expected out of a 39-year-old coming off major back surgery. He has been the Yankees' most consistent starter this season, missing just one turn in the rotation. In his 26 starts, Wells has gone at least five innings 24 times, pitching into the seventh in 18 of them.
"I know if I'm healthy, I'm going to go out there and be able to pitch and give these guys innings and keep them in the ballgame," Wells said. "That was my goal this year, just to go and keep the team in the ballgame and whatever happens, happens. So far, I've pretty much stood up to the task and it's something I feel good about."
In his last three starts, Wells has defeated the Red Sox, Angels and Mariners -- three of the five AL teams with winning records. After walking six batters against Seattle, Wells responded in his next two starts, throwing 15 2/3 innings without allowing a walk.
"His last two have been about as good as he's been all year," said pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre, who thinks that a slight change in Wells' mechanics has been a big help. "His stuff has improved and his command has definitely improved. He's always been able to throw strikes, but he's been up in the zone more than we wanted. Now when he's up, it's for effect."
Wells threw 129 pitches on Tuesday, 86 for strikes. He improved to 9-2 on the road, 9-0 in AL ballparks (he lost at Shea Stadium and Coors Field).
When asked if he considered that this may be his final start, given the status of the current labor situation, Wells chose to take the "glass-half-full" approach.
"I was just glad to go out there and pitch well," Wells said. "I don't think a lot of people expected me to last this long, and I know that I did. This could be it, but I don't think it's going to be my last one. I'm a little optimistic about things, and hopefully we can get something done and continue into September."
If there is a September for the Yankees, it looks like they have an energized Wells for the stretch run.
"He always steps up in big games and he did it again tonight," said Derek Jeter. "He pitched real well. He worked quick, he threw a lot of strikes he kept the defense on its toes and it was one of his better performances this year."
Wells makes himself at home
By Mark Feinsand / MLB.com
BOSTON -- David Wells has never cared for Fenway Park. With an 8-10 career record and a 5.62 ERA, the left-hander has had some tough times pitching against the Red Sox on their home turf.
Tuesday was not one of those times. Wells manhandled the Sox, hurling eight-plus shutout innings as the Yankees won 6-0 to increase their lead in the American League East to eight games.
"To shut these guys out, that's great," Wells said. "We had great defense, guys made some great plays and I made some good pitches to get out of some jams. It's nice to beat them because they're in second place. We want to try to put some more distance between us to feel a little more comfortable."
For the first three innings, Wells wasn't even the best pitcher in the game, as Sox southpaw Casey Fossum retired the first 11 Yankees he faced. But once the Yankees put up four runs in the fifth, Wells went into cruise control for the rest of the night.
His first and only true test of the night came in the second, when a Ron Coomer error and a single by Shea Hillenbrand put runners at the corners with no outs. But Wells made a nice play on a comebacker to the mound hit by Carlos Baerga, throwing out Manny Ramirez at the plate for the first out. A popup and a groundout later, and Wells was on his way to the dugout, still in a scoreless game.
"That was big," Wells said of the inning. "They threw one away, and it was my turn to pick them up. I looked at Ron, he felt bad, but I got out of it and we both smiled. That's what we have to do as a team -- pick each other up. They're going to make better plays for me more than I'm going to pick them up."
Said Sox catcher Jason Varitek: "He was able to stop the once chance we had early and from there he handled us. He just pitched very well, made quality pitches."
Wells allowed the leadoff batter to reach base three more times, twice on doubles, but Boston was unable to do anything with their runners in scoring position, going 0-for-11.
"That's his best of the year, especially since he had to get out of some jams," said manager Joe Torre. "It's not easy to pitch a shutout in this ballpark, especially when they start the inning with a man on second base. That's really tough to do, and he was certainly equal to the task."
Wells (15-6) has given the Yankees more than they could have expected out of a 39-year-old coming off major back surgery. He has been the Yankees' most consistent starter this season, missing just one turn in the rotation. In his 26 starts, Wells has gone at least five innings 24 times, pitching into the seventh in 18 of them.
"I know if I'm healthy, I'm going to go out there and be able to pitch and give these guys innings and keep them in the ballgame," Wells said. "That was my goal this year, just to go and keep the team in the ballgame and whatever happens, happens. So far, I've pretty much stood up to the task and it's something I feel good about."
In his last three starts, Wells has defeated the Red Sox, Angels and Mariners -- three of the five AL teams with winning records. After walking six batters against Seattle, Wells responded in his next two starts, throwing 15 2/3 innings without allowing a walk.
"His last two have been about as good as he's been all year," said pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre, who thinks that a slight change in Wells' mechanics has been a big help. "His stuff has improved and his command has definitely improved. He's always been able to throw strikes, but he's been up in the zone more than we wanted. Now when he's up, it's for effect."
Wells threw 129 pitches on Tuesday, 86 for strikes. He improved to 9-2 on the road, 9-0 in AL ballparks (he lost at Shea Stadium and Coors Field).
When asked if he considered that this may be his final start, given the status of the current labor situation, Wells chose to take the "glass-half-full" approach.
"I was just glad to go out there and pitch well," Wells said. "I don't think a lot of people expected me to last this long, and I know that I did. This could be it, but I don't think it's going to be my last one. I'm a little optimistic about things, and hopefully we can get something done and continue into September."
If there is a September for the Yankees, it looks like they have an energized Wells for the stretch run.
"He always steps up in big games and he did it again tonight," said Derek Jeter. "He pitched real well. He worked quick, he threw a lot of strikes he kept the defense on its toes and it was one of his better performances this year."