Yanks think cold played role with Gio

Gio Urshela left Wednesday night’s game when his back tightened up on him, but the Yankees are optimistic that it was just a result of the cold and not an injury issue. In fact, they did not send him for medical tests before leaving for Cleveland, Aaron Boone said.

“I think they feel that it’s gonna be something that is day to day,” the Yankees’ manager said. “I think it just locked up a little bit on probably in the cold before his last atbat. I think he even probably maybe could have continued (playing), but we’ll see how he is after getting some treatment here.

“I don’t think it’s anything too serious,” Boone added.

Urshela had just been moved into the clean-up spot Wednesday night as the Yankees’ only hot bat right now. He went 1-for-3 before leaving the game.

HICKS BACK

Aaron Hicks was back in the starting lineup a day after the Yankees’ struggling center fielder was left out of it to work on his swing. Hicks drew a big pinch-hit walk in the eighth on Tuesday and scored the game-winning run on a wild pitch.

Hicks went 0-for-3, but drew two walks in the Yankees 4-1 loss to the Braves Wednesday.

“I wanted to get him back in there today.” the Yankees’ manager said.

Hicks is hitting just 160/.236/.240 with a home run and 14 strikeouts on the season. He is 1-for his last 15.

Boone sat him to start Tuesday’s game and also sat struggling Clint Frazier, who has yet to drive in a run this season. Both were back in the lineup Wednesday

Boone has expressed confidence in Hicks — and all hit hitters — getting back on track. He just wanted to give Hicks a chance to step back and not keep pressing to turn it all around in one at-bat.

“Aaron’s in a good mental space and had a good day yesterday, obviously had a really important quality at-bat for us in the inning in which we grabbed the lead,” Boone said. I thought it just made sense today.”

NEARING FREEDOM

The Yankees are very close to achieving the 85% vaccination rate among the traveling party that will allow them more freedom under MLB’s coronavirus health and safety protocols this season.

“I think we’re as close as you can be but not yet, because it factors in the other site as well. So like, here we are, I think over 90% (vaccinated),” Boone said of the major-league team. “I think we’re just at about 84% overall still, because there’s still some people that haven’t gotten a second shot.”

A team spokesman said that they are waiting for some Tier 1 employees to clear the 14-day waiting period after their second dose of the shot.

MLB and the union offered to loosen the protocols for team that had 85% of its traveling party vaccinated. Among the freedoms they provide for individuals who are fully vaccinated (two weeks after the last dose) are: gathering on team planes, trains or buses again and being at indoor gatherings without masks or distancing with other vaccinated people away from the ballpark and team facilities. Also, testing can be reduced from every other day to twice a week and vaccinated family or household members can stay at the team hotel on the road.

Boone said that those who are fully vaccinated will have more freedom on this road trip, but not all of them yet.

DOMINGO TONIGHT

As expected the Yankees will recall Domingo German and start him tonight in the series opener in Cleveland. The right-hander was sent down to the alternate site after two starts.