Knee still keeping Gardy benched
Brett Gardner’s injured right knee kept him out of the lineup again Wednesday.
The outfielder hasn’t played since Saturday because of inflammation in the knee and after expressing optimism he would be back against righthander Felix Hernandez, Gardner sat instead.
Gardner’s absence was felt early, as Clint Frazier, starting in his place, struck out twice with runners in scoring position. Frazier later doubled and scored in the seventh in the Yankees’ 7-5 win over the Mariners.
“I think they’re just playing it safe, to be honest,’’ Gardner said. “I’m encouraged by the way it feels.”
Gardner ran the bases and took batting practice before the game. Aaron Boone said the running went well, but he was “not very close” to playing Gardner.
With Seattle starting left-hander James Paxton Thursday, the manager indicated Gardner wouldn’t play then, either.
“I’m optimistic it’s not a DL thing,’’ Boone said.
But after Thursday’s day game, the Yankees head St. Petersburg, Fla., and the artificial turf there probably won’t help matters. Gardner is taking anti-inflammatories, but said there was no swelling or fluid in the knee. Gardner isn’t the only injured Yankees outfielder. Boone was also asked about Jacoby Ellsbury, who has been out all season because of a myriad of problems. Boone said he was “hopeful” Ellsbury would be back at some point this year.
“He’s close to getting back into baseball activities,’’ Boone said. “He’s doing pretty well. He’s progressing.”
Beyond that, not much is known — other than his most recent injury was to his back. Boone didn’t agree that Ellsbury’s ailments (which have included his oblique, rib, back and plantar fasciitis) have been minor.
“I don’t think it’s fair to characterize them as not serious, because they’ve kept him down,’’ Boone said.
Aroldis Chapman picked up the win with a scoreless ninth. His final pitch of the night was his fastest of the season (104.3 mph) and got a groundout from Nelson Cruz. Masahiro Tanaka (hamstrings) played catch again, but has yet to throw off a mound. “He’s progressing pretty well,’’ Boone said.
After drawing comparisons to Mariano Rivera from Rays manager Kevin Cash following his MLB debut, Jonathan Loaisiga wasn’t as sharp Wednesday, throwing 84 pitches in 3 2/3 innings.
“I think he’s got to do a little better job of making it look like a strike when he’s going for the chase pitch,’’ Boone said. “Too often it was a ball out of the hand, and these guys up here are going to recognize that, so it led to even when he was ahead in the count, to a lot of deep counts.”