In less than four weeks, Julian Tavarez has topped the Yankees twice. That’s as many victories as Tim Wakefield has managed against them since the start of 2005.
Tavarez, who turned 34 yesterday, stopped the Yanks’ momentum cold, stifling them over 52/3 innings of Boston’s 7-2 victory.
“You have your fifth starter picking up your fourth starter,” David Ortiz said. “That’s a plus, man.”
After Wakefield bombed against the Bombers on Monday night, Tavarez allowed only three measly hits and two runs, winning at Yankee Stadium for the second straight time. He earned the decision in a 7-4 victory on April 29.
The sinker/slider specialist outpitched Chien-Ming Wang and Mike Mussina in those efforts, surrendering only six hits and five runs in 102/3 innings.
“The Yankees are one of the best hitting teams in baseball,” Tavarez said. “I just think today, everything was right for me. That was a team effort.”
Boston manager Terry Francona said Tavarez threw some of the best sliders he’s seen all year, and batterymate Jason Varitek also praised the team’s fifth starter.
“Over and over, he’s given us quality starts,” Varitek said.
Tavarez (3-4) realizes that he’s holding a spot for 23-year-old lefty prospect Jon Lester, who is expected to be called up in a few weeks. He said he could throw three straight perfect games and still would be gladly bumped to the bullpen.
“This belongs to him,” Tavarez said. “He’s gonna be one of the greatest in baseball, that kid.”
It helped that the converted reliever walked to the mound in the first with a three-run lead after Manny Ramirez hit a three-run bomb off Mussina. Ramirez and Tavarez are best friends, and Ortiz said they act more like brothers.
He said he’s never asked Ramirez why he hits the Yankees so well. Ramirez has 51 homers against the Yanks and 26 at the Stadium.
“Manny does well against the Yankees and everybody, because that’s Manny being Manny,” Tavarez said. “He doesn’t worry about a thing.
“He knows he’s going to hit .300 and 100 RBIs and 30 to 40 home runs.”
Despite suffering from a cold, he no-hit the Yanks for 31/3 innings and lowered his ERA to 5.27. Although he walked four, none of the men scored.
“I didn’t feel strong at all today,” Tavarez said. “In my head, I was thinking very positive: go out there, throw strikes, challenge the hitters, keep the ball down.”