Hiroki Kuroda (2-2, 5.28 ERA) gets the first start of May as Phelps was pushed back due to a rainout yesterday. He will be taking on Roenis Elias (1-2, 3.54 ERA). Kuroda is coming off his worst start of the season against the Angels, he was pounded for eight runs (six earned) and 10 hits in just 4 2/3 innings. He hasn’t completed six innings in back to back starts since his first three starts. “He just didn’t seem to be real sharp,” Joe Girardi said. “His stuff just seemed a little flat. He’s been a little up and down this year. At times, he’s thrown better.” Kuroda knows something is off as well, “Right now there are certain pitches that are inconsistent,” Kuroda said. “I need to make an adjustment and make sure I get them back. The biggest thing is to improve the quality of breaking balls.”
Elias has been steady for the Mariners but surprise surprise hasn’t receiving much run support. In his five April starts, Seattle’s offense has scored two runs or less four times and been shut out twice. Luckily for the Yankees, Elias is pitching in place of Felix Hernandez, who has been tough on the Yanks, due to rain yesterday. This is his first career appearance against the Bombers. “I got a little out of my rhythm in the fourth inning against Texas,” he said through an interpreter. “You have to attack hitters and stay ahead to control the game.”
Robinson Cano was booed by fans at Yankee Stadium every time he came to the plate Tuesday in his first game back in the Bronx. He went 1-5 with an RBI, a run scored and a stolen base. “You’ve gotten used to not seeing him, but then seeing him in another uniform it’s kind of an odd picture,” Derek Jeter said. “It’s not the first time guys have played here and gone elsewhere. It’s over and done with, and now the stories of what’s going to happen when he comes back I think are over with. But it is a little odd.”
Notes on the game
Seattle catcher Mike Zunino became the second youngest player (23) to record four or more hits in his Yankee Stadium debut going 4-5 on Tuesday. Wayne Ambler of the Philadelphia A’s was 22 when he went 5-5 in his Yankee Stadium debut on May 13, 1938.
The Mariners have won three straight games at Yankee Stadium going back to last season. It’s their first three game winning streak in the Bronx since 2009-10.
The Mariners haven’t won four straight in New York since 2001-03 when they took six in a row at Yankee Stadium.
Shortstop Brendan Ryan played rehab games for Class A Advanced Tampa on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday and went 3-11 with two walks and two RBIs.
First pitch at 7:05 PM on Yes
