Rizzo gets scratched late

Anthony Rizzo was scratched before the Yankees’ game Friday night in St. Louis with lower back tightness.

He was in the initial starting lineup against the Cardinals.

It’s the second time in a month the first baseman has dealt with the issue. He was knocked out of the lineup last month in Pittsburgh and ended up missing four games with what he said was a back spasm issue he has dealt with nearly every year of his career. Manager Aaron Boone said Rizzo told him he didn’t think it was as bad as the last time.

“He felt something a little bit during batting practice and didn’t want to push through,’’ Boone said. “The last time he knew it was similar to in the past and it would be a few days. He didn’t seem to think that was the case [this time].”

Rizzo recently homered in four straight games and is second on the Yankees with 27 homers, trailing only Aaron Judge.

He was also unavailable to pinch-hit in the ninth, as Aaron Hicks led off and struck out to extend his hitless streak to 29 at-bats.

“He’s struggled the last couple of weeks from the left side,’’ Boone said of Hicks.

➤ Matt Carpenter received a rousing ovation from the Busch Stadium crowd when he came to the plate in the top of the first, then heard some cheers when he singled during his first at-bat. Carpenter spent 12 years with the Cardinals before becoming a free agent following two down seasons. He signed a minor league deal with the Rangers prior to his stunning turnaround with the Yankees.

“There were a lot of emotions,’’ Carpenter said. “I spent a lot of time here. It was definitely a special moment.”

➤ After Judge’s first half for the record books, Boone said he’s seen opposing teams pitch the slugger differently.

How Judge handles that will play a part in the success he and the Yankees’ offense have down the stretch.

Judge entered Friday with seven walks in his previous four games before he walked and hit a pair of singles. He has tried to be patient at the plate while teams try not to get beat by him.

“He does get pitched around some,’’ Boone said. “We’ve seen that more lately, teams blatantly pitching around him. He’s done a really good job of having quality at-bats.”