Stanton ‘on track’ after hitting off tee

Giancarlo Stanton was on the other side of this last year. The Yankee slugger was fighting through a left hamstring injury and trying to carry a team that was bit by a rash of injuries. Stanton is now one of a major-league leading 11 Yankees on the injured list and is fighting his instinct to rush back from his strained left biceps.

“We went through this last year and I really enjoyed the grind of trying to stay out there during those hard times,” Stanton said before Saturday’s 4-0 win over the White Sox. “But now I’m on the opposite side of that. So I just have to support (my teammates) and do my best to get back.”

Stanton said he still feels the strain “a little bit,” but said that was normal at this point of the rehab. He hit off a tee and soft toss Saturday, the second time he has done that.

“I think I’m on track,” Stanton said. “Didn’t take 100 percent swings, but I took good progress swings.”

Stanton said that he didn’t swing at 100% effort because it is part of the progression plan for him to ramp up.

“I mean, it’s my second day, I’m not about to just go out there and mess it up again,” Stanton said. “It’s a process.”

In other injury news, Troy Tulowitzki, who is out with a strained left calf, said he has been playing catch and hitting in the batting cage. The next step for him is running on a treadmill, which he did not have a timetable for.

After what seemed like a week where the Yankees defense was constantly letting them down, Saturday was a crisply played game in the field for the Bombers.

Tyler Wade a terrific diving stop of Welington Castillo’s sharp grounder to his right to start the third inning. Brett Gardner had a diving catch on Adam Engel’s shallow fly ball to end that inning. Greg Bird ended the fourth with a nice grab of Yonder Alonso’s grounder for an unassisted out.

“With CC on the mound and (catcher Kyle Higashioka) out there, they have a good gameplan, a good pace and I think it just gets the defense rolling,” Gardner said. “They set the tone and we are ready to roll behind them.”

After having allowed three or more earned runs in four straight games, the Yankees bullpen got back on track with a little help. Domingo German, who is being skipped this turn through the rotation, pitched two scoreless and then turned it over to the back-end arms.

Zack Britton, who allowed three runs in his last two outings, pitched a perfect eight. Yankee manager Aaron Boone said it was “crispest” they have seen him this year.

“I felt good. Actually, the last outing I had, even though the stats weren’t very good, I felt like I was on my way,” Britton said. “Today was a good step forward. We’re just trying to be consistent, and anytime I get into the game, just attack the strike zone like I did today.”

Aroldis Chapman pitched a perfect ninth in his first appearance since Sunday.