KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Michael Tonkin has pitched in two of the last three games, throwing a total of 39 pitches.
But manager Aaron Boone, who had been avoiding Clay Holmes and several other overworked bullpen players, reluctantly asked the right-hander to pitch for his third game in four days.
Tonkin naturally accepted. It was like a tap on the shoulder. Warm up and join the game — something he likes.
He’s taken too many other kinds of taps this season.
“It’s good to be on the ball, be comfortable and be in a good position,” Tonkin said after earning his second career save in a 4-2 win over the Royals on Monday at Kauffman Stadium. “I feel like I’m not afraid to get tapped on the shoulder after the game.”
Tonkin is no longer on the verge of release.
The 34-year-old started the year with the Mets but struggled in three games and was designated for assignment on April 5th.
The Twins acquired him in a trade, played Tonkin in one game before designating him as a free agent, and the Mets acquired him again, used him in two more games before designating him as a free agent.
Finally, the Yankees made their request on April 25th and may have found their keeper.
Tonkin pitched 20¹₃ innings in pinstripes, lowering his ERA to 0.89 and using his slider and two-seam fastball more than he had in the past.
He pitched well enough to not only stay out of DFA range but also earn Boone’s trust.
After Carlos Rodon pitched a strong seventh inning and Ian Hamilton allowed just one run in the eighth, Boone held Holmes, who pitched three games in four days, Luke Weaver, who threw 24 pitches on Sunday, and Caleb Fergussion, who pitched two of three games.
And he looked to a pitcher with “grit,” Boone said. “He’s fearless, he’s really competitive. He fits in well in that room.”
Tonkin walked with one out, allowing the tying runner to reach home plate, but he got Vinny Pasquantino to fly out and MJ Melendez to strike out.
His second save in his 206th career game would have been unthinkable just a few weeks ago.
“I guess it’s been chaotic,” Tonkin said of the season thus far. “The first month wasn’t ideal. To be here now makes it all worth it.”
Anthony Rizzo, who has been in a terrible slump after months of overall poor play, was benched for the second straight game.
The 34-year-old Rizzo is one hit in 29 at-bats in June with an OPS of just .623. When asked if taking a few days off was a way to work on his mechanics or to reset mentally, Boone said it was both.
“We wanted to give him a few days,” Boone said, adding that Rizzo is doing fine. “He’s trying to work through some stuff, but he’s also resting.”
DJ LeMahieu started at first base, with Oswaldo Cabrera at third base.
Boone said he and Rizzo “got together every night” to discuss his eventual return.
Gerrit Cole returned to Yankee Stadium after his second rehab start Sunday and spoke with Boone.
“I think he felt good about it,” Boone said of Cole’s 57-pitch, 4²/inning outing with Double-A Somerset.
Cole’s next step will likely be his third rehab appearance on Friday.
Boone is tied with Billy Martin for the seventh-most wins by a manager in Yankees history (556), behind only Joe McCarthy’s 1,460 wins, which was the all-time leader from 1931-1946.
“Obviously a great coach, a great career, a great player and obviously a great history with this team,” Boone said of Martin. “He had a lot of ups and downs, but he was a great player in his time and generation.” [he was] He is known as one of the great and truly intelligent managers.
“It’s a players’ game, and we were fortunate to have a lot of great players.”
