After Aaron hits wall, Girardi gives slugger a rest

AARON Judge got the day off on Wednesday, as the Yankees beat the Reds 9-5. But the 25-year-old rookie slugger will be back in the lineup tonight against the Rays.

Joe Girardi said before Wednesday’s victory that Judge was “a little physically beat up” but added that it’s nothing serious.” Girardi said that Judge running into the wall during Tuesday night’s victory factored into his decision to give him a rest.

“I watch him and he’s diving and running into walls,” Girardi said. “That’s what this guy does. He plays really hard. He went through a little bit of a tough stretch that first week (after the All-Star break), but he’s swung the bat better. We saw it in Seattle, and then the ball he hit to right (Tuesday). But I just felt this is going to really help him.”

Judge has appeared in 96 of the Yankees’ first 99 games, hitting 32 homers while batting .310/.434/.646. He hit his first two homers of the second half during the team’s fourgame series in Seattle this past weekend. Jacoby Ellsbury, reduced to being a $153 million pinch-runner/fourth outfielder, started in center and hit eighth.

Ellsbury went 0-for-4 at the plate and was booed after hitting into a 5-4-3 double play.

CLINT GETS A SCARE

Clint Frazier said he was fine after sliding awkwardly into home in the seventh inning.

“Yeah, he’s fine,” Girardi said. “I didn’t see any signs of anything as the game went on, but we’ll wait and see tomorrow. I don’t think there’s anything wrong.”

Frazier went 2-for-4 with a walk and two RBI. The 22-yearold rookie reiterated his hope to avoid getting sent back to Triple-A Scranton when Aaron Hicks returns.

GETTING AHEAD

Chase Headley is batting .367 in 14 games since July 9. … David Robertson pitched a scoreless ninth in his first Yankee Stadium appearance in pinstripes since Sept. 25, 2014. … Didi Gregorius has an eight-game hitting streak.