Manager Joe Girardi’s decision to use Derek Jeter as the DH for the second time in three games last night against the White Sox had nothing to do with Jeter’s legs or any other body part barking.
“I am trying to make sure we can run him out there every day,’’ said Girardi, who has had Jeter in the lineup for all seven games since he returned from the DL last Monday in Toronto. Jeter started five games at short and counting last night’s assignment was the DH twice. “It’s nothing physical; I am just trying to run him out there every day. He is fine, he is great.’’
Jeter went 2-for-3 and scored a run. His leadoff single against Chris Sale in the eighth ignited a five-run rally that carried the Yankees to a 6-4 victory.
With 3,314 hits Jeter moved into sole possession of ninth place on the all-time list. Next up is Paul Molitor who is eighth with 3,319.
Not having Jayson Nix (fractured left hand) is a negative for Girardi who used Eduardo Nunez at short last night. It’s less than a week that Nunez crumbled to the Rogers Centre turf and missed three games before starting at short Sunday with a knee problem.
“He says he is okay,’’ Girardi said of Nunez, who delivered a two-run double in the eighth that broke a 4-4 tie. “We watch him and as he plays more he will gain more confidence running. He says he is fine.’’
***
Joe Girardi says he isn’t lobbying Mariano Rivera to shelve retirement plans. However, he is advising baseball’s all-time saves leader to get away from the game for a while and then make sure he is done.
“I still think he can do the job,’’ Girardi said of his 43-year-old closer who posted his 40th save last night. Knowing how hard it is to take the uniform off, you don’t ever want to think ‘I could I have played a little bit more?’ It’s not lobbying for him to come back. I believe he’s going to retire.’’
Rivera says Girardi’s advice won’t be enough to change his mind.
“I already told you, I don’t want to come back. I made my decision,’’ Rivera, who worked a perfect ninth and fanned two. “They can do what they want to do.’’
Rivera has saved at least 40 games nine times which ties him with Trevor Hoffman in that department.
***
Vernon Wells stole home on the front end of a double steal in the second inning. He was the first Yankee to do that since Mark Teixeira did it on May 31, 2011 at Oakland.
***
The White Sox might be what CC Sabathia needs to deliver a quality outing tonight.
In 32 career starts against the White Sox, Sabathia is 18-4 with a 3.63 ERA. As a Yankee, Sabathia is 4-0 with a 3.53 ERA in six starts.
Sabathia is 3-1 in the last four starts but has an ERA of 6.17 and hasn’t made it past seven frames in any of those outings.
***
Locked in a race for the second wild card spot going into last night’s action, Joe Girardi was asked if he was a scoreboard watcher.
“It’s pretty hard to not scoreboard watch because it’s right in front of you and it’s flashing,’’ Girardi said. “You always notice what teams are doing. Does it take your attention away from the game? No, but it’s pretty hard not to.’’
***
Joe Girardi doesn’t have a firm answer as to why Alfonso Soriano has played so well in his second tour as a Yankee.
“Maybe he is comfortable with his surroundings. His numbers weren’t bad in Chicago before he got here,’’ Girardi said. “My guess is that he is comfortable here.’’
In 93 games with the Cubs, Soriano batted .254 with 17 homers and 51 homers. After going 1-for-4 and driving in two runs, Soriano is batting .261 with 12 homers and 39 RBIs in 36 games as a Yankee.