Wang will make another start for Scranton
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Chien-Ming Wang has thrown 13 scoreless innings in two Triple-A rehab starts, but that wasn't enough to convince the Yankees he's ready for big-league hitters.
Joe Girardi announced last night that Wang will pitch again for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, this time tonight against the Red Sox's affiliate in Pawtucket, R.I..
That means Phil Hughes will stay in the rotation. Hughes, the winning pitcher on Wednesday, will face the Rangers in Arlington on Monday.
Girardi said the Yankees want to see better action on Wang's trademark sinker. Specifically? "The consistency of his sinker and the explosion of his sinker," he said. "That great downward movement."
Wang threw a bullpen session at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday and expected to be activated from the disabled list, where the Yankees have stashed him since April 24 with weakness in his hips related to last season's serious foot injury.
Wang was awful before he was placed on the DL, with a 34.50 ERA in three starts. Girardi said the lefty-heavy lineup of the Yankees' next opponent, the Phillies, was not a factor in the decision even though Wang has always been less effective against lefthanded hitters.
"We want to see what we saw in the bullpen Tuesday," Girardi said. "We want to see him take that into a game. We all know he wants to be here. We want him here. I think he understands where we are coming from."
Girardi said Wang will return when the team deems him ready even if Hughes pitches well against Texas.
Damon out, Coke iffy
Johnny Damon was not in the lineup after he injured his back against the leftfield wall on Adam Jones' fifth-inning homer Wednesday. Damon, whom Girardi called "stiff and sore," is day-to-day. Melky Cabrera started in left with Brett Gardner in center. It was Gardner's first appearance since he injured his right shoulder sliding into home and getting tagged out by Twins catcher Joe Mauer on Sunday.
Phil Coke, who was hit in the pitching shoulder with a batted ball on Wednesday, was a game-time decision last night.
