With 17 games left in the season, a wild-card berth appearing likely and the American League East title still very much in play, Yankees Manager Joe Girardi has made his position clear: Given the choice between making friends or winning ballgames, he will opt for the latter every time.
Showing a quicker hook than Joe Frazier, Girardi did not do much to strengthen his personal relationships with pitchers Jaime Garcia and Dellin Betances on Wednesday. But Girardi certainly helped bolster his team’s playoff chances, carefully nursing Garcia and four relievers through a tense 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays at Citi Field.