In the short time he has had as the Yankees’ starting shortstop, Eduardo Nunez has impressed his first baseman.
“This guy’s taken over for Derek Jeter, so it’s not going to be easy being thrust in that role,” Mark Teixeira said yesterday. “I love what I see from him.”
Nunez is a roller coaster for the Yankees, especially regarding the contrast between what he delivers offensively versus what he doesn’t deliver defensively.
Yesterday the Yankees’ replacement shortstop committed a brutal error during the first inning and faltered on another defensive play in the seventh.
Nunez, however, smacked the go-ahead — and ultimately game-winning — RBI single in the Yankees’ 6-4 win over the Rockies in The Bronx on Old-Timers’ Day.
The 24-year-old Nunez is now batting .293 (12-for-41) in his 12 starts at shortstop since Jeter, who turned 37 yesterday, went on the disabled list with a strained calf, adding a home run, five RBIs and only two strikeouts in those 12 games. He also has committed three errors. The Yankees are 9-3 during the run.
“Keep working on my defense and fix the errors,” said Nunez, who has eight errors in 24 games this season. “Every day’s a new day.”
Nunez’s error yesterday came on the game’s second batter. With Colorado leadoff man Carlos Gonzalez on first base, Jonathan Herrera hit a perfect double-play ball to Nunez. But the shortstop lifted his glove too soon, and the ball went right under his legs.
Ivan Nova managed to get out of the inning, stranding both runners, but the miscue was ugly.
Then with nobody out in the top of the seventh with the game tied 4-4, Chris Iannetta stole second and Russell Martin’s throw went into center field, allowing Iannetta to go to third. Nunez should have prevented the throw from leaving the infield.
In the bottom of the inning with the game still tied, however, Nunez — who was 0-for-2 in the game and in a 4-for-22 rut — came up with runners on first and second and one out against reliever Matt Belisle. He delivered with an RBI single to left, bringing home Chris Dickerson to put the Yankees ahead.