YANKEE NOTES
Orlando Hernandez tested his sore back yesterday, and passed with flying colors. So as far as the Yankees and their ace starter are concerned, El Duque can rejoin the starting rotation just in time for tomorrow night’s big series opener in Atlanta.
Hernandez was a last-minute scratch from his last start when he felt soreness in his upper back. Joe Torre had considered the option of having to bump Roger Clemens up to start tomorrow, but after El Duque threw pain-free before last night’s game against the A’s, he pronounced himself fit for duty.
“[I’ll pitch] Friday, I think. Today I did fine, threw maybe 30 pitches, 30 or 40 pitches. [There was] no pain,” Hernandez said, then added through an interpreter “[Friday] is my turn in the schedule, so it’ll be Friday.”
Yankees used Mariano Rivera for an inning in Tuesday’s loss to Oakland and hoped to get him into last night’s game as well just to get him some work.
Rivera, tied with Sparky Lyle for third on the Bombers’ all-time save list, has not had a save opportunity since May 8 against Tampa Bay, a string of 18 games.
“He’s pretty good. We just need to get him some work,” Torre said. “It’s weird, for where we are [28-20 before last night] and it’s been three weeks since he’s had an opportunity. That’s really strange.”
Tino Martinez snapped a 65-at-bat homerless streak with his second-inning solo shot Tuesday night, and Torre hopes that his struggling first baseman will start to relax. Torre said Martinez has been pressing.
“He’s still a little anxious up there. I was happy to see the home run, but he still looks a little anxious. He’s not as selective as he’s been. He’s gone outside himself a little bit,” Torre said of Martinez, who came into last night 5-for-his-last-27, and was 2-for-19 with just one RBI in the first five games of this homestand.
Assuming Hernandez opens the Braves series against Kevin Millwood (4-3, 4.36) tomorrow, that sets up a classic matchup Saturday between Roger Clemens and Greg Maddux (7-1, 2.16), a pitcher’s duel involving nine Cy Youngs. Andy Pettitte would close the set Sunday against LHP Terry Mullholland (5-4, 5.19).