Rookie helps Yankees get split of doubleheader
CLEVELAND -- In the first game of their doubleheader Monday, the New York Yankees held the Cleveland Indians to one run but lost, so in the second game, the Yankees did not allow the Indians to score any runs.
After losing the first game 1-0, New York bounced back to win the second game 7-0.
Rookie left-hander Vidal Nuno made his first major-league start in the second game for the Yankees. Nuno pitched five scoreless innings against the organization that selected him in the 48th round of the 2009 June Draft, then released him in the middle of the 2011 season.
In picking up his first major-league win, Nuno held the Indians to three hits, with three strikeouts and three walks.
"He did an unbelievable job, considering he hasn't pitched in a while," said Yankee manager Joe Girardi. "He's very poised out there. Nothing seems to bother him. He was ahead of hitters all day."
"He threw strike one to just about every hitter, and it wasn't always with his fastball. It was pitching 101. A very solid game," said Cleveland manager Terry Francona of Nuno.
The rookie's best pitching came in the fifth inning. The Yankees were leading 1-0 but Cleveland had runners at first and third with two outs and No. 3 hitter Asdrubal Cabrera at the plate. Nuno struck out Cabrera to end the inning.
"That was crucial. I was getting tired. I was trying to keep my poise and make pitches," said Nuno.
The Indians also started a rookie in that game, right-hander Trevor Bauer, who pitched into the seventh inning. Bauer (1-2) gave up an unearned run in the first inning, then was charged with two of the six runs the Yankees scored in the seventh inning when they blew the game open.
New York's six-run seventh featured RBI singles by Jayson Nix and Vernon Wells, and RBI doubles by Austin Romine and Lyle Overbay, plus an error by Indians third baseman Mark Reynolds.
Cleveland won the first game as Justin Masterson pitched a four-hit shutout, striking out eight.
"Masty did exactly what you want your ace to do," said Francona. "They loaded up their lineup with left-handers, but from the first pitch he was outstanding. There was no wiggle room, because we only had one run, and he made it stand up."
Francona was particularly grateful for Masterson's complete game because the Indians' bullpen was worked hard over the weekend when the Indians won two of three games in Detroit, then were faced with the doubleheader on Monday.
"That's what every guy who starts the first game of a doubleheader wants to do," said Masterson, of his complete game. "Keep the pen out of it so it can be fresh for game two."
The Indians scored the only run of the game in the first inning, on a home run by Jason Kipnis, his fifth home run of the season, each of which has come in the first inning.
That was the only run allowed by Yankees starter David Phelps (1-2), who pitched 6 2/3 innings. He gave up four hits, with seven strikeouts and five walks.
Masterson allowed four hits with nine strikeouts and three walks. It's his second complete-game 1-0 shutout of the season. He won by that score over the White Sox on April 12.
Masterson is the first Indians pitcher to pitch multiple 1-0 complete-game shutouts in the same season since Bud Black and Greg Swindell both did it in 1989.
Notes: Teams playing doubleheaders are permitted to add a 26th player, and the Yankees recalled infielder Corban Joseph from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he was hitting .270. Joseph started the first game of the doubleheader at first base. Cleveland added Bauer. ... Between games, the Yankees optioned outfielder Brennan Boesch to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and recalled pitcher Brett Marshall. . . Yankees closer Mariano Rivera has converted all 15 of his save chances to start the season. Rivera has only one longer such streak. In 2008, he converted his first 28 save opportunities. ... Prior to Monday's game, the Indians optioned third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall to Class AAA Columbus and recalled left-handed pitcher David Huff. Chisenhall was hitting .213 with a .253 on base percentage. ... Indians left-hander Scott Kazmir, who will start Tuesday night in Philadelphia against the Phillies, has 17 strikeouts and one walk in 12 innings over his last two starts.
