Ed Montague is officially removed from the Yankees’ Christmas card list.
The veteran umpire yesterday was in the middle of a second eighth-inning controversy in four days at the Stadium, calling out Melky Cabrera at first base on a sacrifice bunt, despite Cabrera beating the throw.
Cabrera slammed his helmet to the ground in protest, and manager Joe Girardi moved to the top step of the dugout, but didn’t argue the play.
The manager then huddled with Cabrera in the dugout.
“I just told him, ‘Just make sure you stay in the game, we’re going to need you,’ ” Girardi said after the Yankees lost 3-2 to the Royals.
The missed call by Montague loomed larger for the Yankees when they failed to score in the inning, leaving two runners on base.
On Friday, Montague was the plate umpire who called out Jason Giambi on a questionable check swing in the eighth inning of the Yankees’ 2-1 loss to the Royals. Giambi also protested vehemently.
“They are bang-bang plays, some of them are going to go your way, some of them aren’t,” Girardi said. “That’s part of the game.”
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After starting two straight games behind the plate, Jorge Posada was given a rest yesterday, as Girardi continues to ease Posada back into the grind after a stint on the DL.
Girardi said Posada will start the next two games behind the plate, but the manager is unsure beyond that. Jose Molina started yesterday’s game, but Posada pinch hit for him in the eighth inning and delivered a leadoff single. Girardi then summoned third-string catcher Chad Moeller to run for Posada.
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Ian Kennedy (strained lat) threw about 30 pitches in the bullpen before yesterday’s game and said he felt no soreness. Kennedy will now report to Tampa for continued rehab.
“It feels back to normal again,” Kennedy said. “I hadn’t been on the mound in two weeks, so it was kind of rough. But [the lat] felt good at least, that’s all that matters.”
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Girardi was non-committal on whether Mariano Rivera would be available for tonight’s game. Rivera has pitched three straight days . . . The Yankees announced the signing of second baseman David Adams, the third player they selected in last week’s First-Year Player Draft. . . . Derek Jeter finished 0-for-3 and had his hitting streak snapped at a season-high nine games.
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Pitching matchups for the Oakland series – Tonight: Chien-Ming Wang (6-2, 4.57 ERA) vs. Dana Eveland (4-4, 3.82); tomorrow: Darrell Rasner (3-3, 3.58) vs. Justin Duchscherer (5-4, 2.32); Thursday: Andy Pettitte (5-5, 4.99) vs. Joe Blanton (3-8, 4.15).