KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Derek Jeter didn’t believe he required a rest after starting seven straight games, but the shortstop wasn’t in the lineup Friday night when the Yankees opened a four-game series with a 4-2 win over the Royals at Kauffman Stadium.
“I never feel I need a day,’’ Jeter said. “I don’t like to sit out. Seven games is a week. I always played every day and I always want to play every day. That’s [Joe Girardi’s] decision but I don’t feel like a needed a day [off].’’
Jeter sat on the bench with a 6-for-30 (.200) skid working as Brendan Ryan started at short for the seventh time this season.
Ryan went 1-for-4, was caught trying steal third and failed to cover second base on Lorenzo Cain’s ground ball to center that turned into an RBI double in the fifth.
When Jeter presumably returns to the lineup Saturday night, he will have more than the Royals on his mind. The Rays are remembering Don Zimmer with a tribute Saturday in St. Petersburg, Fla., and Jeter has never been shy about how close he was to the former Yankees bench coach who passed away this week at 83.
“He was a special guy, always optimistic and always had encouraging things to say,’’ Jeter said. “Zim always treated me good. He was a huge part of my development as a player.’’
With three regular-season games at Kauffman Stadium left for him, Jeter was asked about a favorite memory.
“The first time I met Buck O’Neil, it was my first or second year,” Jeter said of the Negro League legend. “He had kind things to say.”
Girardi is going to look at Ichiro Suzuki in right against right-handers and use the ice-cold Alfonso Soriano against lefties. Friday night, against righty Jeremy Guthrie, Ichiro started and went 1-for-4. He was 0-for-2 with runners in scoring position and was picked off first after starting the ninth with a single.
Jacoby Ellsbury went 1-for-4, extending his hitting streak to a season-high 11 games. … Reliever Shawn Kelley is scheduled to throw one inning Saturday for Double-A Trenton. Kelley is on the disabled list with a strained lumbar spine and hasn’t pitches since May 6.
CC Sabathia is throwing at Yankee Stadium and the Yankees will re-evaluate him when they return from their 10-day road trip that opened at Kauffman Stadium Friday night.
“We will see where he is at,’’ Girardi said of Sabathia, who has been out since May 10 with an inflamed right knee.
Outside of a wrap and a small dot of discoloration, David Robertson wasn’t showing any signs that the sizzling grounder he took off his left foot Thursday was bothering him Friday night. Robertson, who pitched the ninth inning for his 14th save in 16 chances, said he was available to pitch after getting hit by a grounder from Oakland’s Albert Callaspo.
Yankees are 12-1 in road games started by rookie pitchers.