Attitude is everything for hot Headley

Chase Headley was displaced July 18, when the Yankees made a deal with the White Sox for three players, including Todd Frazier. Headley had been the starting third baseman, but now that job was going to go to Frazier. Headley moved to first base and has handled the transition well.

It might even be helping his hitting.

Headley on Saturday continued a tear, which began the first day he played first base, by coming off the bench for a pinch-hit, two-run homer off Rays reliever Sergio Romo in the sixth to give the Yankees a 4-3 lead in what would become a 5-4, walk-off win at the Stadium.

He also drew a walk to start the ninth. Jacoby Ellsbury pinch-ran and ended up scoring the winning run.

“That hit from Headley was a big blow for us,” said Rays manager Kevin Cash, who brought in Romo because starter Blake Snell ran out of gas.

Headley has an extensive history against the right-hander that included a .455 average with two walks in 13 plate appearances.

“[An] outstanding day,” manager Joe Girardi said of Headley. “Gave him half the day off and he comes in and puts us ahead and continues to get on base at an extremely high rate.”

Headley is batting .429 with a .485 on-base percentage in nine games since he began playing first base. Over 30 days in May and June, Headley was criticized as his average plummeted from .307 to .225. Of late he said there has been little he has tinkered with to start hitting, because “sometimes that’s the frustrating part about hitting — not a lot of adjustments to be made.”

Girardi said Headley’s recent improvements could be linked to the way he handled things when he got displaced.

“The key to it was when we were in Minnesota and the trade was announced,” Girardi said. “He came into my office and said, ‘I’ll do whatever you want.’ It’s the attitude. He’s embraced it.”