Gardner ignites pinstripes in nightcap to split DH
BALTIMORE — He gets lost among the trees that are Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge because of their height, muscle and home run hitting ability. He is closer to Gleyber Torres and Miguel Andujar in physical stature, but decidedly older than the two rookie infielders.
He is the longest tenured Yankee, and Monday night Brett Gardner showed how important he is to the only club he has ever played for.
Having made the final out of a one-run loss in the first game of a doubleheader against the woeful Orioles at Camden Yards, Gardner opened the second game with a sharp single to right and then became the reason the Yankees rebounded with a 10-2 pounding of the Birds in the nightcap that was witnessed by 26,340.
“In so many ways he is our heartbeat and obviously one of the leaders,’’ Aaron Boone said of Gardner, who went 4-for-6 with a homer, three RBIs and made two outstanding catches in center field. “He plays with grit and a chip on his shoulder. He set the tone.’’
Because the Red Sox beat the Rangers and the Yankees’ split the Yankees fell 2 ½ games back of the AL East leaders. It’s the furthest they have been out of first place since May 30.
Had they not bounced back in the nightcap, the Yankees would have suffered the embarrassment of losing twice in the same day to what might be the worst team in the history of baseball.
And that’s before the O’s (25-66) deal AllStar shortstop Manny Machado, who the Yankees have an interest in obtaining before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.
CC Sabathia (6-4) allowed an early 3-0 lead in the first game to drift into the In- ner Harbor by giving up a two-run homer to Mike Trumbo in the fourth and a three-run home run to Danny Valencia in the sixth.
The Yankees threatened in the ninth against closer Zach Britton, when Andujar opened with a pinch-hit single and moved to second on a wild pitch. But Britton retired the next three Yankees to even the brutal Birds’ record against the Yankees this year at 4-4.
The last out was made by Gardner on a grounder to the right side.
Gardner helped Luis Cessa post the Game 2 victory with six shutout innings in which he allowed three hits, walked three and struck out four. His running catch on the warning track to rob Machado of an extra-base hit was terrific, but topped by him getting a glove over the wall to deny Chance Sisco of an eighth-inning homer.
Then he praised Cessa for his strong outing in his second big league start this season.
“He was wonderful. He was ahead of guys and gave us what we needed,’’ Gardner said of Cessa’s best outing as a Yankee, which was followed by him being optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Gardner said he was annoyed he didn’t make several plays in Toronto, but there was nothing to criticize about his play in the field and at the plate. He hit a tworun homer in the fourth, doubled home a run in the eighth and beat out an infield single in the ninth.
Watching Gardner roam center field, Boone said reminded him of the great NFL defensive backs.
“He is a shutdown corner,’’ Boone said. “He can go get it. If he gets his mitt on it, you are out.’’