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Aaron Boone said on Friday afternoon that he would not hesitate to use Aroldis Chapman for a low leverage situation or “the biggest ninth inning berth” against the Red Sox.
The brawling closest to the Yankees got the ninth inning on Friday night, but it was a cleanup assignment, and he dusted off the cobwebs to kick off the final inning of a 4-0 loss in the Bronx, trying to get out of a brutal funk.
It seemed to be a work in progress. Chapman delivered a second straight scoreless outing on 23 pitches (15 catches) and recorded one strikeout, but he also walked a batter, made a pitching error with a wild pickup attempt and gave up a pair of flyouts on the warning track.
“Better,” Boone said. “Glad he got in there.” I thought he had recognized and made a few small adjustments during the outing. When he missed a shot, it didn’t snowball him. Like he could feel certain things until he made a few adjustments in the game, within a hitter, which I found encouraging.
“I thought it was a good step for him and I hope he can lean on it.”
It was Chapman’s first appearance in 10 days and only his second in seven games since losing the lead in three straight outings. He also went to the All-Star Game in between – an honor he received for his 0.39 ERA in his first 23 appearances – but did not pitch in Denver.
In nine appearances from June 10 to July 4, Chapman was rocked for 14 earned runs in 5 ² / ₃ innings. He missed three saves in that streak – which doesn’t include an 8-4 ninth inning lead against the Angels – while allowing four homers, nine walks and six strikeouts.
Chad Green has been in the closing duties since then, while Chapman’s only appearance before Friday was in the ninth inning of a 12-1 win over the Mariners on July 6.
Boone insisted that Chapman’s struggles were not related to the MLB crackdown on foreign substances – although the timeline aligns – but rather were the result of his delivery slipping. The manager reiterated that if the Yankees are to get to where they want to go this season, they need Chapman to pitch because he is able to pitch.
“He’s the Chapman I knew and came to see and experience,” wide receiver Gary Sanchez said of Friday’s outing. “You have to understand that as a baseball player we all go through different struggles. You have to fight and get back on your feet. There is no doubt in my mind about his abilities.
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