Will Warren’s west coast success an encouraging sign for Yankees
The rookie right-hander, showing flashes of potential but struggling overall this season, took a 5.65 ERA into the two-city expedition.
With the Yankees’ wrapping up a road trip with a 3-2 win over the Mariners on Wednesday, the club must be thrilled with the results their westward voyage yielded for Will Warren.
The rookie right-hander, showing flashes of potential but struggling overall this season, took a 5.65 ERA into the two-city expedition. Then he delivered his best start as a big leaguer on May 9, holding the Athletics to just one earned run over a career-high 7.1 innings in Sacramento.
Pitching in an offensively-charged minor league stadium, Sutter Health Park, Warren kept the A’s to four hits and one walk over 87 pitches. The 25-year-old, who has been burned by nibbling and free passes, looked as aggressive as ever as he struck out seven batters.
On Wednesday, Warren remained on the attack on the mound in Seattle.
While he only lasted five innings, he set another career-high with nine strikeouts while allowing zero earned runs. Once again, he issued just one walk while permitting three hits over 92 pitches.
Warren, who fanned five of the first six Mariners he faced and incorporated his curveball more than usual, could have had a more economical afternoon had it not been for an error that kicked off the third inning. While DJ LeMahieu was charged with an errant throw on a Leody Taveras grounder, there was some confusion between Warren and Ben Rice as they both went to cover first.
A Leo Rivas single and a Jorge Polanco walk eventually loaded the bases with two outs. Julio Rodríguez, who robbed Trent Grisham of a leadoff home run earlier, capitalized by shooting a two-run double the other way.
Neither run was charged to Warren, who now has a 4.17 ERA.
While Warren left the game with the Yankees in a 2-0 hole, the Bombers pieced together a comeback.
That began with a two-out, RBI double from Jasson Domínguez in the sixth. A pinch-hit, solo shot from Paul Goldschmidt then tied the game in the seventh before Aaron Judge drilled his major league-leading 15th homer – a 444-foot, 117.7-mph, bases-empty blast – in the eighth.
The late power surge cemented a series victory and a winning road trip. It also salvaged another strong outing from Warren.
More would certainly be welcomed, as the Yankees will remain reliant on the young pitcher. With Gerrit Cole lost for the season, Luis Gil not expected back until at least July, and Marcus Stroman set back, the Yankees’ have an injury-ravaged rotation and are short on inspiring depth at Triple-A.
Warren could always be optioned should his struggles resume, but with four-plus pitches, he offers more potential than anyone in the minors and even a few of the Yankees’ big league starters.
That upside was on full display out west as Warren showed encouraging signs of growth. Now the Yankees’ hope is that his maturation continues as summer nears.