Wang uses new pitches to defeat Red Sox
By PETER ABRAHAM
THE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: May 22, 2007)
NEW YORK - Chien-Ming Wang won 19 games and finished second in the Cy Young
Award voting last season with essentially one pitch, a hard, sinking
fastball.
If the pitch sank, as it almost invariably did, Wang would get a succession
of groundballs and work deep into the game. But if it didn't, he was out
of options.
Wang returned to the Yankees this season determined to be more of a complete
pitcher. Prodded by pitching coach Ron Guidry, he worked in spring training
on making his slider an acceptable pitch and developing a changeup.
"Everybody knows I throw the sinker," Wang said. "I had to throw my other
pitches sometimes."
The results of that effort were on display last night as Wang pitched
into the seventh inning and allowed only two runs as the Yankees beat
the Red Sox 6-2.
Wang scattered seven hits and struck out five, his most this season.
Throwing his slider for strikes and mixing in a changeup more often
than ever before, Wang won a game the Yankees badly needed.
"We need to beat them now," Wang said. "This was a big game."
Alex Rodriguez and Jason Giambi homered and Robinson Cano had a
two-run triple as the Yankees crawled to within 9 1/2 games of the
first-place Red Sox. The series continues tonight with Mike Mussina
facing Julian Tavarez.
If this is finally the starting point of the Yankees' revival,
credit Wang (3-3) with providing the impetus as he slowed down the
best team in baseball.
Wang came into the game 2-4 with a 5.05 ERA in seven career starts
against the Red Sox. The last had come on April 29 when Wang allowed
four runs in six innings in a game the Yankees lost 7-4.
It was that game that convinced Guidry his ace had to change.
"Boston is a great hitting club. But when you pitch a certain way and
guys know what your capabilities are, when you do something different,
it's unexpected," Guidry said. "They're not looking for those things.
Now you have guys guessing what you'll do."
Of his career-high 114 pitches, Wang said he threw 12 changeups and
at least 40 sliders. He also worked in an occasional four-seam fastball
that stayed high in the strike zone.
The Red Sox challenged Wang early, putting two runners on with two outs
in the first inning. But Wang got J.D. Drew to ground to second. Boston
loaded the bases with two outs in the second before Wang came back to
strike out Kevin Youkilis with a 3-2 slider.
"A year and a half ago, he wouldn't have even attempted that," manager Joe
Torre said. "This gives him more ammunition. He certainly has a variety of
stuff."
Boston did not score until the fifth inning when Youkilis and David Ortiz
had back-to-back doubles. By then, the Yankees had built a 4-0 lead.
"(Wang) threw some good changeups, some good sliders and he threw his
two-seamers with velocity. That's the evolution of a young pitcher becoming
a better pitcher," Boston manager Terry Francona said. "I don't think
that's a difference in strategy. It's the maturing of a pitcher."
Despite having thrown 104 pitches, Wang started the seventh inning.
He got one out before walking Julio Lugo and giving up another double
by Youkilis.
"I wanted to keep pitching," Wang said. "Guidry asked me before the inning
if I was done, and I said, 'No way.' "
Wang left to a standing ovation from the crowd of 55,078 and tipped his
cap when he entered the dugout.
"It's a game of constant adjustments," Derek Jeter said. "And Wang won
that game tonight."
Mike Myers came in and got Ortiz to fly to left. It was deep enough to
score Lugo. But Brian Bruney struck out Manny Ramirez on four pitches,
ending the rally.
Boston starter Tim Wakefield (4-5) lasted five innings, giving up six runs
on nine hits.
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