Not that the Yankees needed any reminding, but Gio Urshela showed again why he has been so valuable this season with his performance in the field and at the plate in Wednesday’s 5-1 win over the Mets at Citi Field.
Now, they just have to hope he’s not the latest to be lost to injury.
Urshela, who made two outstanding off-balance throws earlier in the game — and saved his best for the eighth — hit his seventh homer of the season to give the Yankees a three-run lead in the sixth.
The blast was the second of back-to-back shots after Didi Gregorius went deep to hit the Yankees’ first homer since their MLB record of 31 straight games with a home run came to an end Tuesday.
But Urshela grimaced as he limped around the bases and was looked at by trainer Steve Donohue and Aaron Boone when he got back to the dugout.
“It was something in his glute,’’ Boone said. “I hope it was just a cramp, but we’ll have to get a better feel [Thursday].’’
Boone considered taking Urshela out of the game and even told Edwin Encarnacion to get ready, but the muscle loosened up and Urshela remained at third.
“I felt it a little after the swing,’’ Urshela said. “I feel good now … I was able to finish the game.”
Urshela was healthy enough to make an eye-popping play on Jeff McNeil’s grounder to start the eighth. After a diving stop, Urshela — still sitting — made a strong throw for the first out. It was reminiscent of the play he made in Kansas City on May 25.
Urshela said he relied on his instincts to make the play from what Boone called “the seat of his pants.”
“I just react,’’ Urshela said.
“It was special,’’ Boone said. “There were some big-time plays over there by him.”
Urshela also showed off his arm in the bottom of the second, when he made a terrific play on Todd Frazier’s slow roller to lead off the inning.
Two innings later, Michael Conforto opened the fourth with a soft grounder that Urshela grabbed. He made another excellent throw to DJ LeMahieu at first to help Domingo German mostly cruise through six innings in his return from the injured list with a hip flexor strain.
It was just the latest display from Urshela, who has been a revelation for the Yankees this season, taking over at third base when Miguel Andujar was lost for the year with a torn labrum in his shoulder. With Gregorius back at shortstop, Gleyber Torres shifted to second and LeMahieu has taken some time away from Urshela at third, but Urshela continues to make his presence felt.