The matinee rubber match at Petco Park has Phil Hughes (4-9, 4.58 ERA) on the mound against newly acquired Padre Ian Kennedy. Hughes was smacked around for five runs on nine hits in four innings by the Rays in a no decision. His up and down 2013 included a July in which he was 1-2 with a 3.86 ERA in five starts.
Kennedy makes his first start for the Padres after joining the team in a deal with the Diamondbacks before Wednesday’s non waiver Trade Deadline. Kennedy has had success at Petco Park, going 3-1 with a 2.27 ERA in six career starts in San Diego. “I’m excited because I got to come to a team that I’m familiar with, a division that I’m familiar with,” Kennedy said. “Kind of a little mixed emotions.” The Padres sent pitchers Joe Thatcher and Matt Stites, as well as a future Draft pick, to the Dbacks in exchange for Kennedy, who has had a disappointing season in Arizona. In 21 starts he went 3-8 with a 5.23 ERA.
Today’s game will mark Hughes’ first start against San Diego and Kennedy’s first start against the organization he began his career with. “It is kind of interesting. When we had them both here in 2008 and they were both in our rotation, that’s not what you expect to see, them matching up five years later,” Joe Girardi said. “That’s the world we live in in baseball. Somebody said we have to make sure we get Joba in that game, too. Maybe there will be some innings limits tomorrow.”
Derek Jeter played Friday night against the Padres, but a sore right calf and leg kept him out of Saturday’s lineup and will keep him out of Sunday’s, too.
Jeter returned from the DL last Sunday after missing two weeks with a right quad strain, but injuries to that same leg will sideline him until Monday at the earliest. Girardi said the Yankees will re-evaluate the captain then. “I’m definitely giving it two days,” Girardi said. “My hope is that we don’t have to DL him. My goal is to get him back in there on Monday, get him in there against the White Sox and see how he does.”
Notes on the game.
Curtis Granderson hit his second home run of the season Saturday, giving a 2 run shot a ride in the seventh inning to break a 0-0 tie.
Mariano Rivera made his first career appearance at Petco Park on Saturday, pitching a perfect ninth to record the save.
First pitch is at 4:10 PM (EST) on Yes
