BOSTON — If you believe the Yankees are for real, that the recent run of series wins is sustainable despite some ill bats, you put a lot of stock in what Brian McCann said of Dellin Betances.
“Ask for a pinch hitter,’’ McCann said when questioned how he would approach the unhittable right-hander if he were batting against him.
With closer Andrew Miller throwing two innings Wednesday and another Friday night, manager Joe Girardi wanted to avoid using the left-hander Saturday against the Red Sox even though the Yankees led by two runs going into the home ninth at Fenway Park.
So after Betances whiffed Mike Napoli for the final out of the eighth, Girardi sent Betances out for the ninth. It wasn’t a fair fight.
Betances struck out Brock Holt and Xander Bogaerts swinging and neophyte Blake Swihart looking at a leg-buckling breaking pitch to save a 4-2 win in front of 36,611.
Betances and Miller have quickly developed into a late-game tag team that has become the talk of baseball.
“He has two of the best pitches,’’ McCann said of Betances. “He throws 97 [mph] with a devastating curveball.’’
There was more to the 15-9 Yankees’ ninth win in 11 games and their fifth straight series victory than Betances’ domination, but he was the featured act.
Brett Gardner went 2-for-4 and drove in three runs. Chris Young’s sixth homer gave Betances a two-run bulge with which to work the ninth. Nathan Eovaldi limited the Red Sox to two runs in 6 ²/₃ innings.
Chris Martin and Justin Wilson recorded big outs serving as the bridge from Eovaldi (2-0) and Betances.
“I feel comfortable, I am going with the game plan and executing pitches,’’ said Betances, who has struck out 25 in 14 ²/₃ innings. “ I haven’t changed anything since last year. I was just a little off in spring training.’’
Betances didn’t put much stock in the save, his first of the season and second of his career.
“What he did today, I don’t think anybody can match that,’’ Miller said. “I certainly couldn’t have done as well as Dellin today.’’
Miller, who is 9-for-9 in save chances, informed his bosses he was available to work Saturday.
“I told them I was good and they told me they would stay away from me,’’ Miller said.
Having Betances affords Girardi that sort of luxury.
“Now I have Miller for [Sunday],’’ Girardi said. “It gives us a ton of flexibility.’’
The arms in front of Betances and Miller have been more than competent. Chasen Shreve and Wilson have been effective from the left side and Wilson whiffed Pablo Sandoval for the second out in the eighth inning with the Yankees leading by a run. Martin stranded Mookie Betts on second in the seventh by inducing Dustin Pedroia to ground out. Esmil Rogers has developed into a strong long reliever.
“Top to bottom we are pretty good,’’ Miller said of the Yankees’ pen. “There is not a big gap between one and two through seven.’’
Miller was being kind to teammates because the gap between Betances and Miller versus every other bullpen in baseball is incredibly large. And the top reason the Yankees might be able to sustain their current pace.
So, who would McCann want to hit for him against Betances?
“I wouldn’t want that for anybody,’’ said McCann, who should know because he has the second best view of Betances’ lethal arsenal.