Hiroki Kuroda is developing into Yankees most reliable starter with 2-hit shutout over Texas

The first month of the season, there were questions still hovering around Hiroki Kuroda. The biggest one was whether he could make the transition from the National League, where he had pitched for four years with the Dodgers, to the American League.

Slowly those questions have been answered. Kuroda is the Yankees’ most consistent, dependable starter. Joe Girardi has had to find replacements for Andy Pettitte and CC Sabathia because of injuries, but he has only had to hand Kuroda the ball every fifth day and send him to the mound.

When you lose quality starters such as Pettitte and Sabathia, having a pitcher like Kuroda gives you the ability to breathe easily at least one time through the rotation. With that as a backdrop, Kuroda (11-8) dominated one of the best lineups in the AL Tuesday night, taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning on the way to a two-hit shutout in the Yankees’ 3-0 win at the Stadium.

“Probably our best pitching performance this year,’’ Girardi said.

Not only has Kuroda cemented his place in the rotation, but if the playoffs started today, he’d have to get the ball in the first game. “He’s the type of guy that likes big games,” said Yankees catcher Russell Martin, who also caught Kuroda with the Dodgers. “He’s pitched well in the playoffs. He’s pitched well in big games. That just shows what type of character that he has. He’s a competitor and he enjoys the spotlight….

via Hiroki Kuroda is developing into Yankees most reliable starter as CC Sabathia, Andy Pettitte out with injuries – NY Daily News.