By MIKE PUMA
Last updated: 9:19 am
June 30, 2008
Posted: 3:15 am
June 30, 2008
For a couple guys who weren't supposed to be on the roster this season, it wasn't such a bad combined performance.
Darrell Rasner gave the Yankees a chance, and David Robertson managed to survive his major league debut without crumbling. Nevertheless, the three runs they allowed were enough for the Mets in their 3-1 victory at Shea Stadium.
Rasner (4-6) allowed two earned runs over five innings, a rebound performance of sorts after he got drilled at Pittsburgh on Tuesday, allowing seven runs over five innings.
Luis Castillo's RBI single in the second and Carlos Delgado's solo homer in the third accounted for the Mets' scoring against Rasner.
"I have a lot of confidence in Rasner," Alex Rodriguez said. "It was a comeback game for him, five innings, he gave up a couple of runs. That is a game we should win."
It was the seventh time in 10 starts Rasner lasted at least five innings and surrendered two runs or fewer. But in four of Rasner's starts, the Yankees have scored just one run.
If Rasner had a regret, it was the high cutter he threw to Delgado in the third inning that ended up hitting the right-field scoreboard.
"If it was on the corner, it may be a different story," Rasner said.
At least Rasner escaped Shea with his season intact. In his previous appearance here, last spring, Rasner left with a broken finger that had him wondering if his career were finished.
Robertson, a 23-year-old right-hander whom the Yankees summoned from Triple-A Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre on Sat urday, entered in the sixth and allowed two singles before David Wright hit a sacrifice fly.
In the seventh, Robertson allowed two more singles, but escaped the inning when Brian Schneider hit into a double play.
"I'm glad to get that first outing out of the way," Robertson said. "Hopefully I'll have some better outings [this] week."
Robertson said his signature pitch, the curveball, wasn't biting. But nerves could have been a factor.
"There were definitely a few butterflies and a little bit of adrenaline going," Robertson said. "I was trying to make it through two innings and give us a chance. I ended up giving up a run, which is not too bad, but I would have liked not to given up that run."
mpuma@nypost.com
