After Luis Cessa got rocked in relief Thursday against the Red Sox, that may have been his last straw...at least for now. The Yankees sent him down to triple-A and replaced him with a familiar face, Tommy Kahnle.
The Yankees will surely need Kahnle's help as their bullpen is gassed right now. Kahnle pitched well in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to the tune of a 2.49 ERA in 21 2/3 innings pitched with 31 strikeouts. Kahnle pitched nine innings earlier this season with the Yankees, giving up seven earned runs. Kahnle saw plenty of success last season after coming to the Yankees from the White Sox, finishing with a 2.70 ERA in 26 2/3 innings with 36 strikeouts.
Cessa heads down with a 4.50 ERA and an up-and-down tenure with the Yankees that ended with him giving up five runs in relief Thursday in Boston. When the rosters expand in September, we will probably see him back up here, but Kahnle seems like the more reliable option out of the bullpen, given his previous success.
Kahnle might have to hop out of the car and get ready quick, because the Yankees may need his arm tonight after the 15-7 loss last night.