Struggling Beltran provides big boost
Age hasn’t been kind to Carlos Beltran’s career, but the 38-year-old still has flashes of game-changing ability. With the game tied in the seventh inning, the veteran outfielder smashed a two-run homer to left field, providing the Yankees a lead they wouldn’t relinquish in a 9-4 victory over Miami Thursday night in the Bronx.
“Of course it feels good,” Beltran said. “Before that I had a few opportunities to try to get a run in and I didn’t do it so you’re just trying to put a good at-bat.”
The homer was his fifth of the season but just his first this month. It was also just his third extra-base hit in June. He’s hitting .250 with a .289 on-base percentage this season. “I don’t focus on the negative, man,” Beltran said. “So for me, baseball is a game of emotions. I try to focus on the positive.”
“I just think it’s got to change, that sort of thing with Carlos,” Joe Girardi added. “He’s still too good of a hitter not to have success and since about May 15th he’s swung the bat much better for us and that’s a huge hit tonight.”
CC UP & DOWN
CC Sabathia was perfect for three innings before giving up one run in each of the next three innings. He didn’t end up with a decision while giving up three runs in six innings on five hits, no walks and seven strikeouts. Dee Gordon led off the fourth with a triple and scored on a groundout. Jeff Mathis had a sacrifice fly in the fifth and Giancarlo Stanton hit his 25th homer of the season in the sixth.
“I think in the later innings I was just getting behind and into some hitter’s counts, and they were able to put some good swings,” Sabathia said. “Just, for me, I need to stay ahead and try to pitch from that position.”
MOVING FOR TANAKA
In order to get prized righthander Masahiro Tanaka an extra day of rest, the Yankees will send Nathan Eovaldi to the mound on Saturday rather than bring in a spot starter to push the rotation back. Eovaldi threw only 36 pitches Tuesday when he gave up eight runs and couldn’t get out of the first inning of a 12-2 loss in Miami, so he’ll be relatively fresh even though he’ll be pitching on three days’ rest. Adam Warren will pitch Friday.
Tanaka has been exceptional since his June 3 return from wrist tendinitis and a mild forearm
ELLS UPDATE
strain, which forced him to miss five weeks. He’s pitched seven innings in each of his three starts and allowed a total of four runs over those three outings while striking out 21 batters and not issuing a walk. Tanaka’s second and third starts since his return both came after five days of rest.
Jacoby Ellsbury (right knee sprain), who ran the bases and took batting practice before Thursday’s game, said he told Girardi he hopes to return to the team by the end of the month. He’s not sure how many rehab games he’ll require. “I’ll try to convince them as least as possible, as minimum as possible,” Ellsbury said. “But I really don’t know. I’d just be giving you guys a guess.” . . . Girardi said the plan for closer Andrew Miller (strained forearm muscle) remains for him to start throwing in 10 days to two weeks.