Pitch-perfect
Starters closing in on returns music to Bronx Bombers’ ears
The Yankees remain unsure when Masahiro Tanaka and James Paxton will make their next starts, although they’re optimistic both will be back soon.
Tanaka, after taking a 111mph comebacker from Tampa Bay’s Yandy Diaz off his right shin on Saturday, was walking normally Sunday.
“We’ll see how it unfolds the next couple days,’’ Aaron Boone said before the Yankees finished their homestand against the Rays with a 13-5 win. “Today was at least encouraging. He walked in feeling pretty [good]. There was definitely some soreness in there, but walking’s not an issue.”
Boone added there’s a “chance” Tanaka makes his next start.
“That’s our intention right now,’’ Boone said.
Paxton, on the 10-day injured list with left knee inflammation, threw another bullpen session Sunday and still felt discomfort in the area.
He’ll throw again Tuesday in hopes the lefty can rejoin the rotation at some point on the upcoming road trip.
“I’m still noticing it a little bit and I’d like to come back and have it not be an issue at all,’’ Paxton said. “I just don’t want it to go backwards once we put more of a load on it. I want to make sure I’m ready to go, so I don’t have to be bouncing back and forth off the IL the whole season with this thing.”
Paxton is confident he’s close and won’t need another cortisone injection.
Gio Urshela fouled a ball off the plate in the third that bounced up and hit him below the belt, sending him down to the ground for several minutes. He finished the at-bat and struck out and played the next three innings before being replaced for pinch-hitter Thairo Estrada in the sixth.
“I think he’s OK,’’ Boone said. “He was having a hard time running. I don’t think it’s anything too major. We were cautious because he wasn’t feeling too great.’’
Dellin Betances (right shoulder impingement) made 50 throws from 90 feet Sunday, expects to push it to 110 feet in the coming days and said he’s not feeling any problems with his shoulder.
Betances has said he expects to return to the bullpen next month.
Gary Sanchez led off the fifth against Diego Castillo with a shot off the wall that bounced away from Brandon Lowe in right, allowing Sanchez to get all the way to third for the first triple of his career. According to Elias Sports Bureau, Sanchez had the second most at-bats among active players without a triple in his career (1,101). Only Seattle’s Ryon Healy had more (1,501). Former Yankee Erik Kratz now moves to second on that list with 840 at-bats without a triple.
The Yankees team plane was grounded by mechanical problems Sunday night, forcing them to bus to Baltimore for Monday’s game at Camden Yards. Last year, the Yankees had issues with their plane on three different occasions.