Bullpen fill-ins have picked up slack for Yankees

WASHINGTON -- The Yankees' bullpen was supposed to be doing this. Throughout spring training, assorted talent evaluators talked about the unit having the look of being the best, or close to it, in the sport.

But the Yankees weren't supposed to be doing it by relying on Cody Eppley, Clay Rapada, Cory Wade and Boone Logan to get big late-inning outs.

As Russell Martin put it, without any disrespect intended: "Our bullpen's been huge, and it's coming from areas you wouldn't necessarily expect."

Rafael Soriano, David Robertson and Mariano Rivera had been expected to shorten the games to six innings most nights.

But Rivera was lost for the season May 3 in Kansas City when he tore an ACL while shagging flies during batting practice and Robertson has been out since May 15 with a strained left oblique. Robertson was activated Thursday and David Phelps, who has made one appearance this month, was sent to Tampa to build arm strength before heading to Triple-A Scranton.

But even without two of the game's best relievers, the Yankees' bullpen, entering this weekend's series against the Nationals, is fourth in the majors with a 2.70 ERA. In the last 30 days, overlapping with the loss of Robertson, it's been 2.88, hardly the train wreck many expected.

The role Soriano has played can't be overlooked. He's resembled the dominant closer he was in 2010 with the Rays, going 11-for-12 in save chances.

In the recent three-game sweep in Atlanta, the bullpen did not allow a run in seven innings.

"I think those guys have really stepped up in big spots," Nick Swisher said. "When you lose a guy like Mo, lose a guy like D-Rob, those are two huge guys right there. Those guys can pretty much take two innings off a game. But our bullpen's done a tremendous job. Seems to be working pretty well."

Rapada and Eppley have been two of the most unlikely success stories, a lefthander and righthander seen as scrap-heap pickups earlier in the year.

Rapada, 31, had a 6.06 ERA with the Orioles last season and was signed in February to a minor-league deal. He made the team out of spring training in large part because Cesar Cabral, another lefthander who had pitched well, suffered a left elbow fracture March 31. Rapada, recently used in four straight games in which he did not allow a hit or run in 31/3 innings, has posted a 3.50 ERA.

Eppley, 26, was claimed off waivers from the Rangers April 5. He has a 3.29 ERA in three different stints with the club.

"You never know where it's going to come from, you just don't," Joe Girardi said. "You don't know how far you're going to have to reach into your minor leagues to get help. But you can be sure you're going to have to reach at some point, and these guys have really stepped up. I can't say enough about what our bullpen has done in the absence of two great pitchers."

Extra basesBrett Gardner (strained right elbow and bone bruise) received a PRP (platelet-rich plasma) and cortisone shot from Dr. Timothy Kremchek in Cincinnati and will be out at least three to four weeks. Earlier in the week, Gardner, on the DL since April 18, saw Dr. James Andrews, whose recommendation was that the outfielder place the elbow in a brace to ensure compliance with the advice that he rest it.