New York Yankees relief pitcher David Robertson throws in the...

New York Yankees relief pitcher David Robertson throws in the eighth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Yankee Stadium in New York. The Yankees defeated the Indians, 4-0. (June 11, 2011) Credit: Christopher Pasatieri

CHICAGO -- Losing Joba Chamberlain was supposed to be the final straw that broke the Yankees bullpen's back, but entering Sunday night, the unit had performed well.

Saturday afternoon was the most recent example as Cory Wade, Hector Noesi and David Robertson didn't allow a run, turning a two-run lead over to Mariano Rivera. Rivera allowed a ninth-inning solo homer in the 4-3 victory.

"It's just learning the guys and where they have success and what situations they're comfortable pitching in,'' Joe Girardi said of the challenges a bullpen with so many moving parts presents to a manager.

Wade, added to the 25-man roster last Wednesday, hasn't allowed a hit or run in 32/3 innings. Noesi, previously the long man, pitched a 1-2-3 seventh Saturday. Girardi said Luis Ayala, the "new'' seventh-inning preference when Robertson moved to the eighth to replace Chamberlain, wasn't available Saturday, having worked three out of four days.

"I'll continue to do that,'' Girardi said of using Ayala in the seventh. "But if I don't have Robby, you might move Ayala back to the eighth and one of those guys might have to step up.''

Though the sample size is small, it's been so far, so good.

A happy Father's Day

Girardi was able to spend Father's Day with his dad, Jerry, 80, for the first time since 2007, when he wasn't managing. Girardi drove 2 hours, 10 minutes to just outside of Peoria, Ill., where his father, who suffers from Alzheimer's, is in a nursing home.

"Better than I expected after what I had heard,'' Girardi said. "His eyes were open, he was moving, he ate well, so it was all good.''

Then he returned to Wrigley Field, where his kids, Serena, Dante and Lena, gave him his Father's Day gifts, which included a new iPod.

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