Staying back on rubber pays off for Betances

NEW YORK -- When Dellin Betances' mechanics are in sync, the right-hander can look electric, as he did in striking out the side during a perfect inning in New York's 4-2 loss to the Red Sox on Friday.

The trick is keeping his 6-foot-8 frame in the right place. Three of Betances' four relief appearances this season have been sharp, and he said that pitching coach Larry Rothschild helped get Betances back on track after his one wild outing on April 4 in Toronto.

"I felt like in Toronto I was rushing everything, so I've been doing dry sides every day with my arm work and mental stuff," Betances said. "I'm just trying to stay more back; same thing with the offspeed, staying more back. I think that helps me get the ball down."

Keeping that mantra in mind, the 26-year-old Betances recorded five outs against the Orioles on Tuesday, striking out three. He enjoyed similar success against the Red Sox on Friday, freezing David Ross and Jackie Bradley Jr. on called third strikes before fanning Jonny Gomes.

"Now I'm just telling myself after every pitch, 'Just try to stay back,'" Betances said. "It's been working for me. I'm going to keep doing work on the side. Larry told me the same thing, I was working side to side. Stay back with your breaking ball, stay back with your fastball and everything will take care of itself. I think that has helped me the last couple of times out."