Last Night's Action: Off to a Bad Start

Blue Jays 9, Yankees 3: Joba Chamberlain's first start in the Major Leagues didn't last much longer than some of his relief appearances. He threw 62 pitches -- 32 strikes -- to get seven outs. Walking four, including three in the first inning, curtailed an outing that was already sure to be short thanks to a strict pitch count. Dan Giese, who was called up with the express purpose to back up Chamberlain, gave up one run in 3 2/3 innings to take the loss. Things wouldn't have been so bad had the Yankees not been facing Roy Halladay, a top pitcher this decade and a long-time nemesis. Johnny Damon and Derek Jeter combined for five hits but the rest of the bats stayed quiet. As for the great Joba experiment, the Yankees know this will take time. They are thinking past this game and this season and deeper into the future. Chamberlain will help this team more as a starter, even if he didn't do so Tuesday.

Mets 9, Giants 6: Pedro Martinez's first start off the disabled list went much better than Chamberlain's. The Mets right-hander got through six innings, allowing three runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and three walks. He and his teammates chased San Francisco starter Barry Zito in the fifth inning, when they managed an eight-spot. Anytime Martinez gets an RBI single and Damion Easley reaches base twice, all in the same inning, things are looking up.

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By Tom Boorstein in News, News on June 4, 2008 12:01 AM

Comments [rss]

MaiaW

I just love how an excellent first outing by a key pitcher that the Mets have been waiting to return for months is completely glossed over by a Yankee loss (albeit with the team darling taking on a new starting role). Really wish this column were more balanced...

JMH

The Post will probably make Chamberlain's performance out to have been terrible, because that's what sells papers, but really it was about what you'd expect. He was on a tight pitch count, so while maybe he could've ideally gotten into the 4th inning, the 5th was unlikely anyway.

Dave Hogarty

Joba did not help himself by committing a balk and then throwing a passed ball, which put a runner on third base. And that E2 by Molina putting another runner in scoring position in the 3rd inning certainly was not constructive to Chamberlain's debut.

Other than that, things seemed to hold together pretty well until the 7th inning when the bullpen crapped its collective pants and one began to wish, "Gee, if only the Yanks had a reliable reliever. Someone like Joba Chamberl--whoops, never mind."