J.A. Happ replaces Deivi Garcia for Yankees after one inning of Game 2 of ALDS vs. Rays
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As it turns out, 21-year-old Deivi Garcia, the talented New York Yankees starting pitcher, was only an opener in Tuesday’s Game 2 of the ALDS against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Garcia pitched one inning, allowing a run on a homer.
Then, Yankees manager Aaron Boone went to J.A. Happ, a more experienced arm, to start the second inning.
“Probably,” Boone said on the TV broadcast, during the game, when asked if throwing Garcia for an inning was the plan all along. They’re so good at creating platoon advantages kind of depending on the lineup and everything. We were going ng to be prepared to go to J.A. pretty early.”
The strategy backfired.
In the second inning, Mike Zunino blasted a two-run shot off Happ that gave the Rays a 3-1 lead. In the third, Manuel Margot launched a two-run homer to put Tampa Bay up four runs.
The move surprised everyone, including Rays manager Kevin Cash.
“A little bit, yeah,” Cash said on the broadcast when asked if he was surprised. “We didn’t know which way they were going to go, but knowing that they would get creativ
Ironically, the Rays — New York’s opponent — are well known for their use of openers. It’s a creative way to begin a game, then control matchups from there.
GAME 1: Yankees brush off Rays’ inside brushback pitches following ALDS Game 1
When speaking to media, Boone only said Garcia would start Game 2. He did not say for sure whether Happ or anyone else would follow Garcia, or how long Garcia would pitch.
Boone only said the Yankees would see how it goes.
In nine regular-season starts, Happ pitched to a 3.47 ERA.
Justin Toscano is the Mets beat writer for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to all Mets analysis, news, trades and more, please subscribe today and download our app.
Email: toscanoj@northjersey.com Twitter: @justinctoscano