Derek Jeter is engulfed in an ugly slump.
Jeter went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in yesterday’s 7-3 loss to the Orioles in The Bronx, and the captain is now hitless in his last 14 at-bats with six whiffs in that span. Jeter struck out against three different pitchers — going down to lefty starter Wei-Yin Chen in the third inning, swinging and missing against righty Kevin Gausman in the sixth and getting punched out by righty submariner Darren O’Day in the ninth.
Jeter did deliver a well-hit sacrifice fly in the fourth inning, giving the Yankees a 3-0 lead. His RBI pushed him into sixth place on the Yankees’ all-time list with 1,258. He passed Bernie Williams.
For the season, Jeter is hitting .167, having collected seven hits in 42 at-bats over 11 games.
*****
The Yankees have heavily scouted Japanese right-hander Masahiro Tanaka. According to a person following Tanaka, the Yankees have seen a lot of Tanaka’s starts. Assistant general manager Billy Eppler and special assignment scout Don Wakamatsu watched Tanaka pitch for the Rakulen Eagles last week.
Tanaka, 24, will have to go through the posting process because he isn’t eligible for free agency. He is 75-35 with a 2.50 ERA during his career in Japan.
***
Alex Rodriguez returned after sitting out Saturday with flu-like symptoms, going 0-for-3 with a walk and making a fine defensive play in the sixth inning.
With Adam Jones on first and one out, the Yankees deployed a shift against lefty Chris Davis. The slugger smacked a grounder up the middle, and shortstop Eduardo Nunez — playing on the right side of second — grabbed it and flipped to Rodriguez, who although a third baseman, was essentially playing short in the shift.
This was a chance for an inning-ending double play, but it required the 38-year-old A-Rod to handle his former role — turning two as a shortstop. Rodriguez, came through, taking Nunez’s flip, jumping over Jones (who tried to take out his legs) and firing to first to get Davis.
*****
For Sept. 1 call-ups, the Yankees summoned catcher J.R. Murphy, lefty reliever Cesar Cabral, righty relievers Brett Marshall and Dellin Betances and infielder David Adams. Righty reliever Preston Claiborne will be recalled today, but manager Joe Girardi does not anticipate any other call-ups.
Outfielder Melky Mesa was released to create room on the 40-man roster. The Yankees also shifted Jayson Nix (broken hand) to the 60-day disabled list. That officially ends any chance he can play again this season.
— Additional reporting by George A. King III