Aaron Boone leaving Giancarlo Stanton out of Monday’s lineup against the Astros at Yankee Stadium had nothing to do with the putrid math in more than one area for the outfielder.
“No, not at all,’’ Boone responded when asked if resting Stanton had anything to do with the right-handed slugger’s .202 (22-for-109) average at the Stadium where he has six homers, 15 RBIs and a .688 OPS this season. In his last three games in the Bronx, Stanton went 0-for-12 with seven strikeouts. Four of those whiffs came in Sunday’s 3-1 win over the Angels. “But there is always the adjustment phase. While he goes through that, I know he has had his ups and downs already, he has been wildly productive. Over time and continuing to work at it and continue to get more comfortable and there will be that period I am confident he will take off.’’
Aaron Judge started in right, Brett Gardner in left and Neil Walker was the DH against Justin Verlander, who pitched the Astros to a 5-1 win.
Hitting at the Stadium hasn’t been Stanton’s only problem. He started Monday’s action batting .199 (28-for-41) against right-handers. Stanton was 1-for-8 (.125) lifetime versus Verlander with five strikeouts and hitting .208 (10-for-48) without a homer and 12 RBIs with runners in scoring position.
Overall, Stanton is hitting .246 with 11 homers and 28 RBIs, so there is production from the outfielder who has bounced from right field to left field to DH in his first year in the AL.
The production Boone talked of has come away from home where Stanton is batting .302 (26-for-86) with five homers, 13 RBIs and a .941 OPS in 27 games. Also, against lefties he is hitting a team-high .370 (20-for-54) with seven homers, 15 RBIs and 1.259 OPS.
The Yankees went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position Monday and haven’t had a hit in that situation in 16 at-bats.
Gardner went hitless in four at-bats, snapping a seven-game hit streak.
Didi Gregorius entered Monday’s game buried in a 4-for-70 (.057) slump, but Boone said he didn’t detect the slide getting to the shortstop, who was the AL’s Player of the Month for April when he batted .330 with 10 homers and 30 RBIs and is hitting .131 (11-for-84) with a homer and four RBIs after going 2-for-4 in Monday’s loss.
“I think he understands that this game can be tough sometimes and understands he has the equipment to get through it and the skills to get through it,’’ Boone said. “I think he also understands he impacts our club in other ways even when he is not swinging the bat.’’
Adam Warren’s numbers in a minor league rehab game for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Saturday weren’t good, but Boone chose to ignore the four runs, two walks and a hit in two-thirds of an inning and focus on the right-hander’s health.
“He came out of it feeling fine,’’ Boone said of Warren, who has been on the DL for more than a month with a strained back. “No giant red flags physically speaking, so that is good. Hopefully get better results next time out but nothing too alarming.’’