Ramiro Pena is used to the reaction by now.
“You play for the Yankees?” he gets from disbelieving people on the street.
Pena’s face and body type is more Little League than American League, but the Yankees sub came through with the biggest hit in the Yankees 5-2 victory over the Rangers yesterday at Yankee Stadium.
Derek Jeter sat out the game with a head cold, giving Pena his first start of the season. In the third inning, Pena hit a two-out, bases-loaded single that scored two runs and gave the Yankees a lead they would never relinquish.
“It’s very reassuring as a manager when guys who don’t play every day come in and contribute,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “That was a huge hit.”
Jeter has been battling a cold for a few days, and was taken out of Saturday’s game in the eighth inning. Girardi opted to give him a day off yesterday because the team was taking a cross-country flight last night to Oakland.
The team has a day off today before opening a three-game series with the A’s tomorrow. Jeter said there is no doubt he will be in the lineup tomorrow.
“It’s just a cold,” Jeter said. “No big deal.”
Girardi waited to talk to Jeter before making out his lineup, and it was not posted until about 90 minutes before first pitch. Jeter’s absence put Pena at shortstop and Brett Gardner in the leadoff spot.
Gardner picked up where he left off Saturday, when he got on base with three infield singles. This time, he began the game by putting down a bunt that rolled foul. He got hit by Rich Harden’s next pitch in the back of the right knee.
Once aboard, Gardner stole second before scoring the game’s first run on a Robinson Cano sacrifice fly.
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He added another stolen base later, bringing his season total to seven.
The game was tied 2-2 when Pena delivered his two-run single to right in the third inning. Pena is now 4-for-5 with seven RBIs in his career with the bases loaded.
“I know I have to wait a little bit because (Jeter, Cano and Alex Rodriguez) they play every day,” Pena said. “It’s kind of not that hard. I’m used to that role. You have to be ready. I try to work out in BP like it’s a real game.”
brian.costello@nypost.com