Joe says Gary spat ain’t so
Denies ‘scolding’ catcher
CHICAGO — It looked like Joe Girardi was sternly lecturing Gary Sanchez in the dugout during Wednesday night’s 12-3 victory over the White Sox, but the manager said that wasn’t the case. “It had nothing to do with scolding him,” Girardi said. “It was about where you put your weight on certain pitches. I don’t have a problem with his effort, but sometimes he shows his frustrations. But he’s still a very young player.”
Sanchez failed to block a strike-three splitter from Masahiro Tanaka to Jose Abreu in the third inning, allowing the White Sox first baseman to reach. The 24-yearold catcher and Girardi engaged in conversation in the dugout following the end of the frame.
“We talked a little bit about catching strategies and how you can use your weight to balance on certain pitches in terms of blocking the splitter,” Sanchez said through his translator.
Sanchez also did not run out a 5-4-3 doubleplay grounder in the fifth. Girardi said that was “by design” as the second-year pro is still dealing with a groin injury that he suffered back on the West Coast roadtrip in Oakland.
“I told him you have to be smart and manage it,” Girardi said.
Sanchez came into Wednesday night’s game with six passed balls this season, which ranks tied for fourth among qualified backstops. Kurt Suzuki, Tyler Flowers and Josh Phegley were tied for the MLB lead with seven apiece.
“I want to say I’ve blocked a lot of them, but some of them have gotten away,” Sanchez said.
Sanchez went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts at the plate. At one point the manager appeared to tell Sanchez to smile in the dugout, as he’d run into a bit of bad luck with some hardhit outs. “I told him not to get down on himself,” Girardi said. “His at-bats were really good tonight.”
Sanchez has nine homers and 27 RBI in June, picking things up after a tough start to the year in which he missed 21 games due to a right biceps injury. “It’s our job to teach, and that’s what we’re doing,” Girardi said.
AUSTIN POWERS DOWN
It sounds like Tyler Austin may be the next Bomber to wind up on the disabled list.
Austin is going for an MRI on Thursday, and said after the Yankees’ 12-3 victory over the White Sox that his right hamstring had not been improving.
Austin Romine started a second straight game at first base for the Bombers on Wednesday night.
Joe Girardi indicated that there is some question as to whether Greg Bird (ankle, foot) will be able to return this season. Chris Carter, who was recently designated for assignment, accepted his outright assignment to Triple-A Scranton.
Outfield prospect Dustin Fowler did not play for TripleA Scranton on Wednesday night, and it’s possible that he could be promoted if Austin winds up on the shelf.
Austin has two hits (one homer) in 13 at-bats over four games since his promotion from the minors.
CHICAGO — Miguel Andujar and Tyler Wade got their chance on Wednesday night because of injuries and took full advantage.
In their first-ever MLB starts, Andujar and Wade combined for four hits and five RBI, and the Yankees rebounded from Tuesday’s bullpen implosion with a 12-3 victory over the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Andujar had a two-run single with two outs in the first in his first MLB at-bat. He added a single in the third and smacked a two-run double in the ninth to become the first Yankee with three hits and four RBI in their big-league debut. The Yankees, losers of 11 of their last 14, were without Aaron Hicks (oblique), Matt Holliday (virus) and Starlin Castro (hamstring). All three are on the DL, and Tyler Austin (hamstring) may join them.
Aaron Judge quieted some rowdy fans in right field who kept yelling “Aaron! Aaron! You suck!” by slamming his 27th homer of the year, a two-run shot that traveled 418 feet to left in the sixth inning. Judge then appeared to look out in their direction as he rounded the bases.
Wade, Ronald Torreyes, Brett Gardner and Judge struck for consecutive run-scoring hits with two outs in the Yanks’ five-run sixth to make it 8-2.
Andujar had an MLB debut to remember. He became the first Yankee to collect three hits and four RBI in his major-league debut.
YANKEES VS. WHITE SOX STAT oF THE DAY
Judge has reached base in 30 straight games, the thirdlongest streak for a Yankee rookie since 1913, according to the YES Network.
UNSUNG HERo
Masahiro Tanaka, who put together back-to-back quality outings for the first time since April 19 and 27.
Gary Sanchez appeared to get a lecture from Joe Girardi for his inability to block balls in the dirt. Sanchez later failed to hustle to first after hitting into a DP. 8:10 tonight, at Chicago; TV: Ch. 11 Luis Cessa (0-2, 6.57) vs. James Shields (1-1, 4.26)