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Halsey
keeps pace with Pedro
Rookie experiences high with standing
ovation |
By David Moses / MLB.com
NEW YORK -- Brad Halsey has experienced
almost everything in his first three
Major League starts.
He made his first career appearance in
front of a packed house at Dodger
Stadium, started in the Subway Series
and on Thursday he matched up against
the Boston Red Sox and Pedro Martinez.
"I'm not really going against Pedro and
I don't like to look at it that way,"
Halsey said. "The way I look at it is
that I'm going against a tough Boston
lineup."
Halsey, who is filling in for the
injured Kevin Brown, had a stellar minor
league career. Before being called up
earlier this year, Halsey was 29-12 with
a 3.36 ERA as a minor leaguer.
Many considered Thursday's game to be a
formality. After all, it was the
three-time Cy Young winner Pedro
Martinez against third-time starter Brad
Halsey.
But Halsey showed why baseball isn't
played on paper. He was brilliant
through five innings, holding the Red
Sox scoreless on just two hits.
Halsey showed that he was human he when
ran into trouble in the sixth inning.
David Ortiz blooped a double down the
left-field line, and then Manny Ramirez
followed with a two-run homer over the
wall in straightaway center.
"Manny is going up there with one thing
in mind, to hit the ball out of the
yard," Halsey said. "I was trying to
make some careful pitches, and I got
around a slider a little bit and hung it
out over the plate and I paid for it."
Manager Joe Torre decided that was
enough for the youngster, and took him
out immediately after the Ramirez homer.
"Halsey was terrific," Torre said. "I
didn't want him losing that game. He
pitched so well, he deserved to come out
ahead in that game."
As he left the mound in the sixth,
Halsey was treated to a standing ovation
from the capacity Bronx crowd.
"It was awesome," Halsey said. "It was
the greatest feeling in the world that I
have ever felt, to be able to walk off
Yankee Stadium field, to have 55,000
fans cheering for you and appreciating
what you've been able to do for the
Yankees and the city of New York."
The one pitch to Ramirez was the only
mistake for Halsey, who gave up only
those two runs on four hits in 5 1/3
innings pitched.
Halsey had problems with his control in
his last start against the Mets, when he
walked five and didn't make it past the
fourth inning. Halsey seemed more
comfortable on the mound Thursday,
throwing 93 pitches, 57 for strikes.
"I felt a lot better tonight, as far as
throwing strikes and commanding the
fastball," he said. "That is the most
important thing for me."
When Halsey left the game, the Yankees
were ahead, 3-2, and he had accomplished
what not many thought he could: He went
toe-to-toe with Pedro Martinez and gave
the Yankees a chance to win.
"It was awesome," Halsey said. "I just
went out there trying to get my team an
opportunity to stay in the game and
hopefully win."
The Yankees weren't able to hold the
lead for Halsey, but, in one of the most
improbable comebacks in recent memory,
they were able to take the game in extra
innings.
"The kid [Halsey] steps up big against
Pedro and battles him for six innings,"
John Flaherty said. "That seems like a
long time ago with all the stuff that
happened in between."
David Moses is a contributor to MLB.com.
This story was not subject to the
approval of Major League Baseball or its
clubs.
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