Giancarlo rockets back into top form

TAMPA — Giancarlo Stanton wants to change the narrative. After the last two seasons, when he managed to play in just 41 regular-season games because of a laundry list of injuries, Stanton would like to focus to get back to what he can do when healthy.

Sunday was a reminder of that. The slugger hammered two lasers for doubles in the Yankees’ 4-0 victory over the Phillies at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

“He looks, he looks ready to go. Those were a couple missiles today,” DJ LeMahieu said. “And that’s that’s a big key for us right there so I’m really happy to see him with a couple.”

Stanton started to turn the page last fall. When he returned after missing 37 out of 60 games in the regular season, he had a different approach to staying loose — running up and down the foul territory in between innings — and healthy.

It resulted in an impressive playoff run. Stanton crushed six home runs in seven games.

Again, Aaron Boone is encouraged by that.

“He’s healthy. And that’s the bottom line for him. I go back to the last couple of years. I just feel like where is that mindset from understanding who he is, understanding his level of focus that he’s able to get to ... go out there 140, 145 times and if he does that, there’s no question in my mind that a giant season is in there.”

TESTING MONTGOMERY

Jordan Montgomery threw three scoreless innings Sunday, but had to work around two hits. That was what the Yankees lefty wanted, a chance to test himself working in different situations.

“It was good to get some work in with guys on base,” Montgomery said. “That’s the best it could have worked out, to give up two soft singles and work out of it. I got to work on holding runners and just feel the pressure of having guys on base, so I’m pretty happy with where I am.”

That’s the comfort level of a starter who knows he is in the rotation. Montgomery said he came into camp this year secure that he would have a spot after the Yankees lost Masahiro Tanaka, James Paxton and J.A. Happ to free agency. It allows him to work on his pitches and get experience in situations without having to worry about results.

“It really doesn’t matter to me where I’m at on the numbers, whatever,” Montgomery said of not worrying about where he lines up in the starting five. “But it is nice coming in spring, like being able to work on stuff. “

Montgomery struck out one and did not walk a batter. He threw 42 pitches, 28 for strikes.

“That was another really good step through his progression today. He was really attacking the strike zone against obviously a pretty good Philly lineup that they brought over today,” Boone said. “I thought he was really pitch efficient. He got into a little bit of trouble there in the third on some soft contact and just kept making pitches. I thought he looked, at this point, fairly early in March, I thought he looked pretty sharp.”

FINDING ROOM FOR ANDUJAR

Miguel Andujar went 1-for-3 with a nice defensive play at third base Sunday, but everyone knows that is Gio Urshela’s job now. The Yankees will continue to find a spot for Andujar’s bat with some reps in the outfield. Boone said Andujar will play the outfield in Wednesday’s night game.

Boone said he’s been impressed with Andujar this spring.

“He’s making the plays at third. We haven’t seen him a lot in the outfield ... and that’s a place I feel like he’s natural out there,” Boone said.

COMING UP

Even with a day off today, the Yankees are keeping their pitchers on schedule. Corey Kluber will throw a live batting practice at the minor-league complex. After that, the Yankees return to action with Deivi Garcia pitching Tuesday in Lakeland.