The left-hander doesn't feel that he has been as bad as his record against the Yankees showed, but admitted, "for the most part, I haven't pitched too well against them.". Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
TORONTO — Mark Buehrle has not pitched well over his career against the New York Yankees.
The left-hander doesn’t feel that he has been as bad as his record against the Yankees showed, but admitted, “for the most part, I haven’t pitched too well against them.”
Before Wednesday, when the Blue Jays beat the Yankees 5-1 and Buehrle pitched five innings to earn the decision, he had not recorded a victory against them in more than 11 years.
He pitched eight innings to earn the decision against New York on April 10, 2004, in his first career start at Yankee Stadium.
In between, he had lost 12 decisions against the Yankees and his record now stands at 2-14 after 22 career starts.
“I think over my career I’ve had good games where I’ve thrown pretty well against them and things haven’t panned out,” Buehrle said. “For the most part, I haven’t pitched too well against them but there have been some games where I feel I should have has more than one win. That’s the way it plays out. I got in some jams tonight and had to pitch out of them so we’ll take it.”
Buehrle only pitched five innings and wanted to go more but manager John Gibbons decided that with the way things have gone for the pitcher against the Yankees, he would get the bullpen involved. He reasoned that he had some relievers who needed the work, particularly with Thursday being a day off. Right-hander Roberto Osuna and left-handers Aaron Loup and Brett Cecil handled the final four innings, allowing a total of one hit and three walks.
Buehrle won the 200th game of his career on April 10 this season, 11 years after that win at Yankee Stadium.
“I told you he was due,” Gibbons said. “We’re excited for him. To be honest with you, I’m as excited about that as I was about the 200th. He got the monkey off his back.”
