Healthy Beltran helps out A-Rod
CHICAGO — Alex Rodriguez returned to the Yankees’ lineup Tuesday night against the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field, while Carlos Beltran’s right hamstring was healthy enough for him to play right field for the first time since June 28 when he suffered a strain running the bases.
Rodriguez went 1-for-6 in Tuesday’s 9-0 win over the White Sox, while Beltran went 3-for-6 with an RBI and run scored. When the Yankees played three games in San Diego last weekend the DH wasn’t used and Rodriguez got two atbats as a pinch hitter, going 1-for-2 with an RBI. Monday, Beltran returned to the lineup but was the DH and Rodriguez didn’t play.
“I think it would mean a lot,’’ manager Joe Girardi said of Rodriguez getting hot to complement Beltran. “It looks like [Mark Teixeira] is starting to swing, too. That would mean a lot. You start getting the big guys in the middle going you are going to score a lot more runs.’’
While Beltran has been terrific all year long, leading the Yankees in batting average (.296), homers (19) and RBIs (53), Rodriguez and Teixeira haven’t done what was expected.
Rodriguez started Tuesday night’s action hitting .222 with eight homers and 28 RBIs. Teixeira was at .192 with seven home runs and 17 RBIs.
Three errors and going hitless in four at-bats Monday didn’t factor in Girardi not starting Didi Gregorius at shortstop Tuesday versus White Sox lefty Carlos Rodon.
“This day I had planned four or five days ago,’’ said Girardi, who shifted Starlin Castro to short and started Rob Refsnyder at second. “I don’t remember the last time [Gregorius] has had a full day off. The last scheduled day off I gave him was June 2 and he played in that game. I wasn’t going to run him out 17 days in a row.’’
The previous time Gregorius didn’t play at all was May 21.
Castro started for the second time at short and Refsnyder made his third start at second.
Girardi said Nathan Eovaldi will be in the bullpen through Sunday. It’s possible the struggling right-hander returns to the rotation when play resumes on July 15 after the All-Star break.
On the advice of pitching coach Larry Rothschild, lefty reliever Chasen Shreve changed the grip on the slider when sent to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and says it helped.
“It’s the same one [Masahiro] Tanaka uses,’’ said Shreve, who was recalled Tuesday. “It helped me stay on top of the ball and it’s been good so far.’’
The change involved Shreve getting his thumb closer to the top of the ball.
Shreve started the season in the big leagues, went on the DL with a sprained left shoulder on May 26 and was sent to the minors on June 19.
To make room for Shreve, righthander Luis Cessa was optioned to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre where he will be used as a starter. Cessa worked two innings in Monday’s 8-2 loss to the White Sox. He gave up three runs (two earned) and five hits. In six big league games this year Cessa is 1-0 with 3.95 ERA.