Big game. Small ball.
It is time the Yankees think small, and that’s exactly what they did in yesterday’s 6-4 win over the Rays at Yankee Stadium. This was a glorious day with a touch of fall in the air and the Yankees finally showed they can be effective with runners in scoring position.
When you think small, big things happen — like the Yankees’ five-run third inning that featured RBI singles by Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez and a three-run, opposite field home run by Russell Martin.
“We had probably the best offensive inning we had all year, we had a walk, we had a bunt, a stolen base and a homer,” said Rodriguez, who added a sacrifice fly in the fourth. “That’s as good as it gets for us and hopefully we can feed off that.’’
In a season of runners left in scoring position, the Yankees produced three hits that inning with RISP.
As Rodriguez talked at his corner locker, the player to his left, Eduardo Nunez, was wearing a green T-shirt that read: “Life of the party.’’ Nunez really was the life of the party for the Yankees’ offense as he again played shortstop with the hobbled Jeter at designated hitter.
Nunez got the party rolling that third inning with a walk against Matt Moore and a stolen base. Jeter followed with his single to right-center, took second on the throw and was moved to third on a bunt by Nick Swisher. Rodriguez then channeled his inner-Jeter and bounced a run-scoring single up the middle.
“[Nunez] changes the game offensively for us because he has a unique package where he has power, speed and has enough recklessness where it is really healthy for our lineup,’’ Rodriguez said.
Recklessness is a good thing. Recklessness creates havoc. Nunez stole a career-high three bases on the day, the most by a Yankee in nearly two years. In a small window that has been his season; Nunez has 10 stolen bases, three behind Rodriguez, who also stole a base yesterday, for the team lead.
“Anything I can do to help the team win, I will do,’’ said Nunez, who also started a game-ending double play in the ninth as Rafael Soriano nailed down his 40th save.
Nunez can be a special weapon the rest of the way and into the postseason.
This is serious business now. The AL East-leading Yankees have 16 games remaining. They have to adjust the way they are hitting and even put down a bunt once in a while as Swisher did (on his own). Remember when hitting coach Kevin Long said the Yankees might resort to a little more bunting to get going and manager Joe Girardi said they would not change the way they do business?
Well, it’s time to change. Take your home runs, but take your RBI singles and your bunts, too.
Swisher offered a wonderful term for the Yankees’ style of play in that big inning, saying “We got Small Ball and Bronx Ball going back and forth. It’s going to be a lot of fun for us.’’
Girardi is stubborn. That is a strength and a weakness for him. He said of that third inning, “Our patience paid off.’’ He said Nunez’s ability to steal bases is really what small ball is all about.
“I call it small ball,’’ the manager said. “Everybody wants to call bunting small ball, but I think it’s just more than bunting. It brings an element that you can create runs.’’
Break it down any way you want, but it is all about creating runs. Girardi is right about that. Small ball also creates better situational swings, something that has been lost in the majors. With two strikes, Martin cut down his big swing and said he was just looking for something out over the plate that he could handle. He wound up with a three-run, first-row, opposite field home run.
Small ball comes in many different packages and when it works, it creates big victories.
Every win is huge now for the Yankees.
kevin.kernan@nypost.com