MLB

Time for Yankees to give Jones more at-bats

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Andruw Jones blasted two home runs, Freddy Garcia won another game, and Curtis Granderson continued to assault left-handed pitchers.

It was quite the day for the Yankees and general manager Brian Cashman, who put all those players in pinstripes. It also was the day that Rafael Soriano, the faux closer Cashman didn’t want, officially was put on the shelf for a long time with ligament damage in his elbow, while old man Mariano Rivera continues to march on, appearing in his 1,000th game as a Yankee, the first pitcher to appear in that many games for one team.

CAPTAIN’S QUEST FOR 3,000

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The 7-3 win over the Blue Jays was telling in many ways, and it might offer hope for the Yankees if Nick Swisher’s hitting woes continue. Swisher went 0-for-3, dropping his average to .204.

Jones, who has had his own struggles adjusting to sporadic playing time, gives the Yankees the kind of fallback that can help in a big way as they start a vital West Coast swing.

The veteran has shown himself to be a professional hitter. Swisher has had more than three times the at-bats Jones has had (152 to 50), yet Jones owns twice as many home runs (Jones four, Swisher two). Jones’ three-hit day upped his average to .240.

Cashman talked about how Jones gives manager Joe Girardi another good button to push. Pushing that button a little more often would be a good thing. There is a fine line. You don’t want to overuse Jones, but he deserves more at-bats, especially considering Swisher’s continued struggles.

Jones made it clear that he knows the role he signed on for. Girardi has done the right thing, sticking with Brett Gardner until he got out of his slump, and now the manager is giving every opportunity for Swisher to dig out of his hole. Like any player, though, Jones said he would welcome more playing time.

“Everybody wants to play more, nobody wants to be on the bench and watch the game,” Jones said.

There has been so much talk about the Yankees adding another bat, just maybe, that bat has been sitting on their bench all this time in Andruw Jones.

Jones is learning a new job this season. Though he was a backup last year with the White Sox, he finished with 278 at-bats (76 starts) because of Carlos Quentin’s injury woes.

With this new role, Jones said he’s

learning that “you can’t try to do too much when you get the opportunity.

“The last 20 at-bats I didn’t feel that well at the plate,” said the right-hand hitting Jones, “but today was a good day. I put up some solid at-bats.”

Jones said it’s imperative that Girardi

allows the regulars to get enough time so their confidence doesn’t wane.

“Winning is the main thing,” Jones said. “You’ve got to keep letting them go out there and get themselves in a groove and get out of their own funk.”

True, but there has to be a timer on the “funk,” a funk-o-meter if you will.

This West Coast trip could provide it with the Yankees facing Michael Pineda and Felix Hernandez in Seattle. The Mariners have the fourth-best ERA in the AL at 3.34. The A’s have the league’s top ERA at 2.86. The Angels are the third leg of the trip and their staff boasts the third-best ERA in the league at 3.40. This will be a hitting challenge.

Swisher has to pick it up. Jones has proven to be a solid hitter his entire career. He has 411 career home runs. He’s 34, but still has pop in his bat, and the former Gold Glover outfielder still can get through a game in the outfield or DH when needed, considering Jorge Posada’s woes.

“Our goal is to get to the World Series,” Jones said. “This has been more than I expected. This is a great organization.”

Maybe Jones can be more than the Yankees expected. Getting him more at-bats couldn’t hurt.

kevin.kernan@nypost.com