Yankees manager Joe Girardi has questioned closer Mariano Rivera's decreased velocity.
"It's shocking," Girardi said after Rivera allowed back-to-back home runs on Thursday night for the first time in his career. "It's not something we'd ever seen."
Rivera's right shoulder is still a work in progress as he is recovering from surgery in October.
"I've been giving my best," Rivera said. "I haven't been 100% yet, but that's no excuse, I won't say that was the reason I lost the game today. I felt great. The strength it will be there, that's not my concern at all. I am not gonna put this on the shoulder. I am not gonna put this on the Stadium."
According to Girardi, Rivera's velocity just isn't there.
"The velocity is not there," Girardi said. "That's part of it. I still think he's coming back from the surgery he went through. That's why we've been very careful with him. Mo's always going to take the ball -- that's Mariano Rivera. But he's had some days where he hasn't felt the greatest."
Girardi Questions Rivera's Decreased Velocity