TORONTO - With six pitchers having spent time on the disabled list this season, a major reason for the Yankees' success has been the ability of less-heralded arms to step into the rotation.
One of the most surprising fill-in stories is rookie right-hander Darrell Rasner, a 1999 Carson High graduate - largely because he was one of those injured arms.
Since returning from a 72-game stint on the disabled list, Rasner is 3-0 in three appearances for New York, two of them starts. He picked up his latest win after throwing six gritty innings in a 7-6 Yankees win over the Blue Jays on Monday night at the Rogers Centre.
Rasner allowed three runs, but the damage could have been much worse. The right-hander opened the game with a hit batsman, double and walk to load the bases with none out and Jays first baseman Lyle Overbay (three career grand slams) at the plate.
A visit from New York pitching coach Ron Guidry, however, got Rasner back on track.
"He told me I was trying to aim the ball instead of just letting it go," Rasner said. "Once I started throwing the ball, just letting it loose, better things happened."
The first-year hurler induced popups from Overbay and Troy Glaus, and then struck out catcher Bengie Molina to escape the inning unscathed.
"They sent a rookie out there to the mound and they got out of that big first-inning jam," said Jays manager John Gibbons. "That proved to be the difference. ... I tip my hat to the kid. He got out of it. For a rookie to do that (is impressive)."
Rasner ended up with three runs allowed on six hits and two walks in six innings, and though he said he didn't have his best stuff, he was proud of the way he kept his team in the game.
"It was a battle from the get-go today, but I got through it," he said. "You try and keep the scores down. My main goal today was to keep (Toronto's runs) at three. Randy (Johnson) even said to me before that we'd come back, and we came back."
The six innings were a needed salve for a rotation that made four starts in two days in a pair of weekend doubleheaders against Boston. Rasner's first start, on Sept. 3, was also due to a doubleheader-induced pitching shortage. The rookie held the Twins to one run in six innings for his first Major League win.
He picked up another win in his next outing, last Thursday. Rasner threw four scoreless relief innings in New York's 7-4 win over Tampa Bay.
Yankees manager Joe Torre took a risk in throwing his young starter on just three days of rest, but he was impressed with how Rasner looked against Toronto.
"I gave him all the credit in the world," Torre said. "Pitching on short rest and the way it looked like in the first couple of innings, he was able to pitch six innings. He was pretty good."
Rasner's 4-0 record and 2.56 ERA for Triple-A Columbus earned him a callup to the Majors on May 31. He threw one scoreless relief appearance before soreness in his right shoulder forced him to the disabled list. Though the injury was not considered serious, the nagging pain forced the right-hander to the 60-day disabled list on July 14, and he had to undergo a lengthy rehab process.
Though he isn't sure about his future prospects - starting, relieving, or making the Yankees postseason roster - Rasner said he is just happy to be pitching and wants to contribute in any way he can.
"It was a long road, so it's a very good feeling for me," Rasner said. "Especially to do it with these guys, the New York Yankees. You can't ask for anything more. It's a great feeling."