Gabbard: No minor contribution

The Yankees have used a plethora of stand-in starters from the minor leagues this season with limited success. If anything illustrated the divergent directions the ancient American League East rivals are heading leading to tonight's opener of their three-game series in the Bronx, it was Kason Gabbard.

With the Red Sox starting staff stretched thin by rainouts and Josh Beckett's skin tear, Gabbard was supposed to be a fill-in yesterday against the Atlanta Braves at Fenway Park. Instead, he was a standout. After waiting out a rain delay of 2 hours 30 minutes, Gabbard registered a career-high seven strikeouts in five-plus innings, allowing two runs on six hits and a walk to pick up his second major-league victory, both at Fenway Park. Gabbard beat the Chicago White Sox last season with seven scoreless innings, striking out six, in a 1-0 Boston victory Sept. 5.

Despite his efforts, Gabbard was optioned back to Triple A Pawtucket after the game, as the Sox recalled reliever Manny Delcarmen. Maybe that's why Gabbard was not available to the media, preferring to let his performance speak for itself.

"He looked like a crafty lefty, like a veteran," said Alex Cora, who had a bird's-eye view of Gabbard from shortstop. "He stayed focused and did a great job. It's not easy, especially if it's a one-shot [deal] to just come here and be a pro knowing the situation. At the end of the year, if he comes back we know we can count on him. If he doesn't, you look back and he had a great start against the Braves and helped us win the series and keep this thing rolling."

Gabbard came out pitching more like Andy Pettitte than Chase Wright. The 25-year-old lefthander, who compiled a 3-1 mark with a 2.75 ERA at Pawtucket, fanned four in the first three innings. He tied his career-high for strikeouts when he whiffed Andruw Jones, who struck out five times, to end the fourth, and he set a new personal best when he got Chris Woodward swinging on a change up in the fifth. Six of Gabbard's seven strikeouts were swinging.

"He threw a fastball with a lot of movement and his offspeed pitches were really effective," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "Maybe, it's fortunate the sun comes out. A lefthander, with the shadows, it's a good place to pitch and he took advantage of it on a day when we really needed some innings."

Gabbard was charged with two runs, both in the sixth inning. Chipper Jones led off with a single and Jeff Francoeur doubled, chasing Gabbard, who departed to a standing ovation. Both came around to score off reliever Brendan Donnelly. By the time the Braves broke through Gabbard was in the dugout, having doffed his cap to the appreciative crowd.

No one was more appreciative than Francona, who had to use a minor league call-up as his starter for the second straight day. Boston sent Devern Hansack to the hill in the nightcap of Saturday's doubleheader. Gabbard fared much better than Hansack, who gave up four runs in four innings.

"Today, for me, was like an organizational win," said Francona. "We got a kid called up from Pawtucket and he helped us win a big game. It's nice to have guys that you can go to."

Gabbard appeared more poised than he did in his first go-around in the majors last season, during which he went 1-3 with a 3.51 ERA in seven appearances (four starts). Sox catcher Jason Varitek said he couldn't compare Gabbard's performance yesterday to his first foray at Fenway.

"I didn't catch him the game last year, but I caught him the one time in spring training and he threw exactly the same way," said Varitek. "It was good to see."

Cora agreed, saying it takes an entire organization to win a pennant.

"It's a great testament to our minor-league system," said Cora. "I heard about a lot of arms that we have down there. Anytime we need somebody we're not going to panic and be like, 'Oh God, we have to call this kid up.' We count on them and we expect great things from them."

Yesterday, they got them from Gabbard.