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| Hiroki Kuroda's first career start on short rest is going just fine, thank you. (Getty Images) |
NEW YORK -- Leading up to Game 2 of the ALCS -- in essence a must-win for the Yankees , what with Justin Verlander set to make two starts should the series goes seven -- there was much hand-wringing over how Hiroki Kuroda would respond to his first career start on short rest. So far, the hand-wringing has proved to be wildly unfounded.
At this writing, Kuroda is perfect through four and has struck out seven of the 12 batters he's faced -- six of them on swinging strikes. Of Kuroda's 49 pitches, 32 have gone for strikes, and only Quintin Berry has managed to hit the ball in the air. Just six times this season has Kuroda struck out seven or more in a game, but in Game 2 he reached seven Ks by the end of the third inning.
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In the fourth, he set the Tigers down on three routine ground balls. With a flag-whipping breeze heading out to left field, it's a good thing for the Yankees that he's missing bats and keeping the ball on the ground.
As Kuroda is wont to do, he's succeeding by peppering the zone with strikes. Specifically, he's assaulting the Tigers with sinker-splitter-slider patterns. Although Kuroda will go to his four-seamer on occasion (18 percent of the time, according to BrooksBaseball.net data), it's been a no-show thus far in Game 2. Of course, he hasn't needed it.
It's early yet, but Kuroda's having a special day so far. Considering what unfolded on Saturday night in the Bronx, this is just what the Yankees needed.
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