It’s scary to think what Aroldis Chapman could do with a healthy knee.
The Yankees closer kept up his dominant work with a perfect ninth Thursday in the Bombers’ 4-3 win over the Rays before 45,066 at the Stadium.
It marked his 19th save — fifth-best in the majors — and belied the fact that he’s been pitching on a balky left knee. That hasn’t slowed him down, and it sure hasn’t slowed down his otherworldly fastball.
“I just love the way he competes,” Aaron Boone said. “He wants the ball. Obviously I like giving him the ball. But he’s a really good competitor. He loves being out there in the fire, and I think he just likes to play.
“So, he obviously takes really good care of his body, he’s a tremendous athlete, and so I think he does everything he needs to be ready to go when that ninth inning calls. I’m not surprised [at his success despite the injury] just because of who he is, competitively speaking, and the kind of athlete he is.”
Chapman put the Rays down in order on 14 pitches, his final two his fastest at 101.5 mph and 100.5 mph to retire Mallex Smith and preserve Domingo German’s first major league win.
“I am 100 percent confident in our bullpen. In my opinion we have one of the best bullpens,” German said through an interpreter. “Any time they’re out there I don’t feel nervous at all.”
Righty Dellin Betances threw a scoreless eighth, and the bullpen has pitched to a stellar 0.33 ERA over the past eight games. Betances said the relievers feed off each other’s momentum, and watching Chapman work has especially inspired the rest of the bullpen.
“You feed off each other’s energy,” Betances said. “Obviously Chapman’s a guy that he’s been excelling at his job for a long time. I just try to go out there and do the best I can, hand the ball to Chapman.”
Chapman earned a save in his eighth straight appearance, the longest streak by a Yankee since Mariano Rivera notched saves in 10 consecutive in 2013.
Asked if it was stunning to see after Chapman’s struggles last year, Boone said there was no back-end tandem he would rather have.
“The game is humbling. The game will get you I don’t care how great you are,” Boone said. “Struggles, adversity, you play long enough — even when you’re great — that’s part of it. It’s how you respond to it. It’s how you grow from it. And I know both of those guys, I don’t know if you could feel much better about handing it to two guys at the end of the game than them.”