Kelly Johnson was signed because he could hit from the left side and with power. But after a good start, the third baseman hadn’t had much playing time, as switch-hitter Yangervis Solarte continues to produce.
“It’s been a little bit tough,” Johnson said of the reduced role. “But it’s to be expected.”
Johnson made his presence felt in Saturday’s 9-3 victory over the Rays, as his homer to lead off the bottom of the sixth gave the Yankees their first lead of the game.
Johnson took advantage of a day off for Derek Jeter, who was replaced at shortstop by Solarte.
Manager Joe Girardi wasn’t overly concerned Johnson’s increased time on the bench would have a negative impact at the plate.
“He’s been in that role before,” Girardi said.
The home run was Johnson’s fourth of the season, and all have come at Yankee Stadium. It was his first homer since April 12, a span of 31 at-bats.
Jeter was held out of the starting lineup after playing all 14 innings Friday night and going 0-for-7.
Girardi said he would have considered playing Jeter if not for the length of Friday night’s game.
“I might have,” the manager said, “but once we got into that really long game and the quick turnaround, I changed my mind.”
Carlos Beltran also was given the day off.
♦ Jacoby Ellsbury had three more hits in Saturday’s win, giving him seven in the last two games.
“I’m just feeling good at the plate,” he said. “I’m locked in.”
♦ Dellin Betances pitched well out of the bullpen again, tossing a scoreless eighth, and has multiple strikeouts in each of his last seven appearances. … Ichiro Suzuki had two doubles.
♦ In desperate need of pitching depth following Friday night’s 14-inning marathon, the Yankees recalled Alfredo Aceves from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Saturday morning.
The right-hander was with SWB in Norfolk and arrived in The Bronx around 9 a.m. He came with a 1.98 ERA in three Triple-A appearances after being let go by the Orioles near the end of spring training after spending last season with the Red Sox.
“We want him to be a guy we use in a lot of different areas,” Girardi said.
Aceves took the spot of Chris Leroux, who was designated for assignment after he gave up five runs and took the loss Friday.
Aceves does come with some baggage.
“He’s a guy that’s extremely competitive and sometimes the competitiveness can get the best of him,” Girardi said. “But it’s a guy that I really believe knows how to pitch that can help a club.”
Aceves went 10-1 with the Yankees in 2009, when they won their last World Series.
“He was very successful here when we had him,” Girardi said. “And then he took on some new roles in different places and bounced around.”