MLB

Yankees’ Aardsma glad to be back on mound

TORONTO — David Aardsma gets the Yankees have much more critical issues to deal with than who’s going to be in their bullpen next season.

For one, they would like to get into the playoffs this year and Thursday night’s 6-0 loss to the Blue Jays was a wasted opportunity to grab a two-game lead over the Orioles in the AL East.

Nevertheless, the right-hander couldn’t help but be pleased with what happened in the bottom of the eighth inning at the Rogers Centre, when he made his first appearance in the majors in more than two years after battling back from Tommy John surgery.

“You never want to be happy about a loss, but to get out there and pitch … I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time,” Aardsma said after giving up a home run and a walk, while also striking out one in one inning after being reinstated from the 60-day disabled list before Tuesday’s game in Minnesota.

The 30-year-old — who the Yankees signed to a one-year deal with a team option with the mindset Aardsma likely would help more in 2013 than he would this season — got Adam Lind to ground out to third to start the eighth.

But the next batter, J.P. Arencibia, turned on a first-pitch fastball and drilled it deep into the left-field seats.

“I missed my spot with that pitch,” Aardsma said. “I rushed my fastball a couple of times, but I was very happy with how I threw.”

BOX SCORE

Aardsma also said he was thrilled he was able to return before the end of this season.

“It meant everything, to prove to myself I could come back from several serious injuries,” said Aardsma, who last pitched in the majors with Seattle on September 19, 2010.

At the time, he was the Mariners’ closer, but missed the rest of that season with an oblique injury.

Aardsma had left hip surgery in January 2011 but later experienced right arm soreness, which led to elbow surgery in July of that year.

His comeback was delayed further by more elbow discomfort in June, but Aardsma said he was confident he would pitch for the Yankees at some point.

“There was never a doubt,” Aardsma said. “The only question was the length of the season.”

Lack of command is a common complaint when pitchers come back from Tommy John surgery, but Aardsma said he didn’t have an issue last night.

His only complaint was an inability to slow down on the mound, which caused him to rush a few fastballs.

“I thought my stuff was really close [to 2010],” Aardsma said. “My speed is not for off and I had a better slider than … ever.”