CHICAGO — Austin Wells' hand was hurt earlier this week, but his arm isn't as bad.
The Yankees catcher covered for Clark Schmidt, getting two runners out trying to steal second base in a 2-0 victory over the Cubs at Wrigley Field on Saturday.
Wells missed Tuesday and Wednesday's games because of a contusion to his right hand from a 95 mph fastball he was hit by on Monday, but he got consecutive outs of Nico Hoerner and Pete “Crowe” Armstrong with hard throws to second base.
“I feel like the last few years I’ve been pitching better as the season has gone on,” Wells said, “so that’s why I started a little earlier. [this year] So I felt a little better right from the start.”
As Wells came through the minor leagues, one of the biggest criticisms he received was his weak pitching arm.
But he worked to change that, stopping 17 of 69 stolen base attempts (24.6%) in his first full major league season, better than the league average (21%).
“I think he made some really big strides pitching-wise in the offseason,” manager Aaron Boone said. “He's really carried that with him this year. Both of those guys were really good pitchers. But Clark has also played a part in that, adding more variety to his pitches, getting to home plate pretty quickly, controlling his pitches well, getting out when Pete Crow-Armstrong got out. But I think Austin's just doing a really good job backing up.”
Wells also went 1-for-3 with 1 hit and 1 walk, scoring the Yankees' first run of the day.
But Schmidt was grateful for his skill.
“It's helped a lot,” Schmidt said. [pitch count]But I knew they were a very active team, so I felt like if I mixed in some shots and changed the timing, I had a chance to get guys out. Thanks to the guys. [Luis] Rojas and company are at the top of their game when it comes to this.
“A big shout out to Wells too, he did a great job as a catcher. It seemed like the fact that he got runners out made it easier on the pitcher.”
The Yankees' relief corps performed well Saturday with Ian Hamilton returning from the 60-day disabled list after missing since mid-June with a torn latissimus dorsi.
Hamilton hasn't performed as well this year as he did last year before landing on the disabled list, but at his best he has the potential to give Boone another quality, impactful pitcher at the back end of the bullpen.
The Yankees designated relievers Nick Burdy and Phil Bickford for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for Hamilton and Schmidt to return from the 60-day disabled list.
Vardy was a pleasant surprise in spring training and the first month of the season, but after a second trip to the disabled list with right hip inflammation, he was demoted to Triple-A and remained there without being added to the Yankees' relief corps.
Promising pitcher Clayton Beater was activated from the Triple-A disabled list on Saturday and has been assigned to Double-A Somerset.
It appeared in July that the right-hander, who was placed on the disabled list in May, might need shoulder surgery, but it appears he has avoided surgery, at least for now.
