Beginning and ending with heat
By Roch Kubatko
David Hernandez got his first shot at closing tonight, and his first pitch was a 96 mph fastball.
Jake Arrieta threw serious heat at the Yankees in the first inning, and Hernandez did the same in the ninth.
Marcus Thames took a big cut and flied to the warning track in right.
One pitch, one out, one scare.
Hernandez walked No. 9 hitter Kevin Russo to put the tying run on base, but he got ahead of Derek Jeter with a 97 mph fastball and induced a harmless fly ball to right with a 96 mph fastball.
Nick Swisher swung through two 97 mph fastballs to fall behind, 1-2, and grounded a 96 mph fastball to second for the final out, with Hernandez covering the bag.
Hernandez had his first career save and Arrieta got his first big league win.
Some like it hot.
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