BIRD CLOSE

Slumping Didi not disappointed

KANSAS CITY — Didi Gregorius was benched for a second straight game Sunday, with Aaron Boone wanting the AL Player of the Month in April to continue his mental break amid a 1-for45 slump. The Royals threw lefties Danny Duffy and Eric Skoglund Saturday and Sunday. Without Gregorius, the Yankees still combined for nine homers and 18 runs in the final two games of the series — both wins. “Disappointed? I’m not making the lineups so why would I be disappointed?” Gregorius said before the Yankees’ 10-1 victory over Kansas City. “I do want to play every day, but there’s not much I can do. We talked about it yesterday, and this is what’s going on right now.”

Gregorius wouldn’t reveal the contents of his conversation with Boone, but said he was satisfied with what was said between the two.

“I just felt like it was a good pause for him to kind of take a little mental break and I know he’ll do some work with (hitting coach) Marcus (Thames) today and especially with all the offdays we’ve had with all the weather this week maybe it’ll just be a chance for him to recharge both mentally and physically,” Boone said. “Hopefully (he’ll) hit the ground running when we get to Texas tomorrow.”

Gregorius will be back in the lineup tonight against the Rangers, though Boone was noncommittal about returning the 28-year-old shortstop to his usual No. 3 spot in the batting order.

The Yankees could get Greg Bird back this week, Aaron Boone said. Bird has been out since undergoing right ankle surgery on March 27.

The 25-year-old first baseman was slated to fly to Pawtucket on Sunday and play there for Triple-A Scranton today.

“I think it’s reasonable (to see him) sometime within the next week,” Boone said. “I think it’s just continuing to bounce back and get into the rhythm of playing nine innings every day. But I would say he’s getting very close. I think he’s traveling today to join the Triple-A team tomorrow.”