BALTIMORE — Joe Girardi went with the numbers Sunday, even if it meant leaving veterans like Jacoby Ellsbury and Brian McCann on the bench in a crucial game in favor of Rob Refsnyder and Austin Romine against left-hander Wade Miley.
Refsnyder got on base twice and scored each time in the Yankees’ 5-2 win over the Orioles before being replaced by Ellsbury as a pinch hitter in the seventh.
And Romine had a two-RBI single prior to being lifted for McCann in the sixth.
Although Refsnyder and Romine produced, the combination of Ellsbury and McCann did not. They went hitless in four at-bats, though Ellsbury made a nice running catch of Pedro Alvarez’s fly ball to end the game.
Still, that was about the only contribution Ellsbury made to the victory.
“He’s somewhat beat up,” Girardi said of why he didn’t put Ellsbury in the lineup. “If I’m going to give him a day off, it’s gonna be against a left-hander — and we’re facing a lot of right-handers as we move forward. He’s struggled against left-handers, too, and I’m trying to find the most offense I can.”
The manager went with Refsnyder — who has spent most of the season in the minors — in left and the struggling Aaron Judge in right.
Despite a four-hit game Tuesday in Kansas City, Ellsbury has a .624 OPS since June 9 and has just one stolen base since July 3.
Girardi insisted Ellsbury is still a weapon.
“The most important thing is getting on base,” Girardi said. “You want guys on in front of your boppers.”
Girardi’s strategy was fairly successful Sunday, as Refsnyder reached base and scored twice.
“As guys get older, physically, it’s harder,” Girardi said of why Ellsbury’s stolen bases are down. “Pitchers pay more attention to them… That’s part of his impact. I think he’s still a good base runner.”
Gary Sanchez’s return to earth continued Sunday, as he went 0-for-2 with a pair of walks.
The catcher finished the trip with four hits in 23 at-bats, with two runs, a double, four walks and a HBP.
“I think it’s a normal correction,” Girardi said of Sanchez’s cooling off.
Ellsbury wasn’t the only regular to be kept out of the lineup, but Didi Gregorius was nursing a left arm injury caused by getting hit by two pitches in the same area in the last week.
Gregorius said he was OK and would be able to play Monday.
Mark Teixeira was also held out because Girardi has decided not to play him in day games after night games.
In addition, Teixeira was walking around with a huge ice pack on his neck before the game.