Beltran struggles with elbow, slump
The game-winning home run Carlos Beltran belted last week certainly has not provided a jump-start to his sluggish first season in the Bronx. Beltran continues to flail away while being relegated to DH duties after missing 21 games bridging May and June with a bone spur in his right elbow. He is mired in a 2-for-25 tailspin since his walkoff three-run bomb against Baltimore on June 20, including an 0-for-4 showing in Saturday’s 2-1 loss to the Red Sox.
“I don’t feel happy with my performance,” said Beltran, whose batting average is down to .209 for the season. “What can I say? I’m just coming to the ballpark every day trying to get that rhythm, and it’s just been difficult.”
Beltran admitted that his elbow has periodically stiffened on him since he returned from the disabled list on June 5.
“The elbow issue is there, we cannot erase that. But I still have to find a way to just go out and do my job, even with the situation that I have,” Beltran said. “I get my days when it’s good and I get some other days when it’s tight or sore, but it’s nothing that I cannot tolerate. . . . It’s just right now, things are not going well.”
GM Brian Cashman acknowledged he’s not sure when — if — Beltran, who signed a three-year, $45 million contract last winter, can return to the outfield.
“I can’t say that just yet,” Cashman said. “We’ll hopefully first and foremost have him hit big for us and then if he feels well enough, we’ll eventually start thinking about the outfield. But we’re not there yet.”
NOT ENOUGH TA-KNOCKS
The Yankee hitters let down ace Masahiro Tanaka again on Saturday night, managing just one run on five hits.
Over Tanaka’s last six starts, the Yankees have totaled just 13 runs. Saturday they were stifled by Jon Lester, who gave up just an unearned run in eight innings and had a no-hitter through five.
The Yanks’ best chance came in the sixth when they managed three straight hits. Brett Gardner singled to lead off the inning, but he was caught trying to steal second with Derek Jeter batting.
Jeter and Jacoby Ellsbury also followed with singles before Mark Teixeira popped up and Beltran struck out swinging.
“You’ve got to get big hits against a pitcher that good,” Teixeira said. “When he’s dominating, you’ve got to try to get that one big hit, and we just didn’t get it.”
CC YA SOON?
CC Sabathia (knee) threw 36 pitches in 2.1 innings in his first rehab start with Class-A Tampa on Saturday, allowing two runs on three hits and a walk while fanning two. His fastball reportedly hit between 87-89 mph. Sabathia told reporters in Tampa that he “couldn’t be happier with the way I felt physically out there.”
The Yankees haven’t said when Sabathia’s next rehab start will be, but Joe Girardi had said the lefty would make at least three minor-league appearances.
Another injured starter, Michael Pineda (shoulder), threw 25 pitches on flat ground from 60 feet in Tampa Saturday and reported no issues.