After struggling against the Boston Red Sox is his second appearance of the season, Toronto Blue Jays ace Marcus Stroman rebounded with a strong performance this week.
Stroman recorded his second win of the season with an eight-inning outing against the New York Yankees Thursday, improving to 2-0 and lowering his ERA to 4.22. The former Blue Devil surrendered two runs on three hits and recorded just three strikeouts, but forced 17 Yankee hitters to ground out with an array of sharp sinkers.
.@MStrooo6, you are the man. #OurMoment pic.twitter.com/7uizpYbPAj
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) April 15, 2016
The 5-foot-8 right-hander recorded a no-decision against the Red Sox April 4. when he surrendered five runs on six hits in 5.1 innings.
Stroman shook off his struggles against Boston and started fast near his hometown of Medford, N.Y., holding New York scoreless in the first three innings. But the Yankees struck first in the fourth when Carlos Beltran grounded into a fielder's choice to drive in Alex Rodriguez. With the bases loaded, Stroman then walked Chase Headley, allowing Mark Teixeira to trot home to give the Yankees a 2-0 lead, but Starlin Castro grounded out to end the threat.
The Blue Jays bounced back with a combined four runs in the fifth and sixth innings, and Stroman also regained his rhythm, retiring the last 11 batters he faced during the fifth through eighth frames.
Duke’s other MLB representative, Milwaukee Brewers reliever Chris Capuano, was inconsistent last week out of the bullpen. Despite surrendering three hits, the 11-year veteran recorded three strikeouts in two scoreless innings against the St. Louis Cardinals Monday.
But Capuano stumbled three nights later against the Cardinals, giving up two runs—including one home run—in two innings as his ERA rose to 4.50. The Pittsburgh Pirates also connected at the plate against him with another home run and three hits Sunday.
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