Jason Giambi has no idea how many home runs he’ll finish with this season, but it’s a safe bet he’ll eclipse his 2007 total.
The streaky first baseman slugged his 14th homer of the season yesterday, matching his total from last year, providing the Yankees with the go-ahead run in their eventual 6-3 victory over the Royals.
A sizzling homestand continued for Giambi. On Thursday, his pinch-hit homer in the ninth beat the Blue Jays, and Saturday he reached the upper deck again, helping the Yankees beat the Royals.
“Right now I’m getting that maybe one mistake an at-bat and doing something with it,” Giambi said.
Manager Joe Girardi credited Giambi’s improved health this season for the offensive surge. In 2007, Giambi was limited to 83 games because of various ailments.
“He’s in great shape and looks great at the plate,” Girardi said.
Giambi also made a lunging grab at first base on Mark Teahen’s line drive in the fifth, saving a run.
“He has gotten dirty for us,” Girardi said. “He has done everything we’ve asked him to.”
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Ian Kennedy (strained lat muscle) is expected to begin throwing off a mound in Tampa this week, but Girardi wouldn’t offer any guarantees yesterday that the right-hander will have a spot waiting for him on the roster when he returns.
“You can’t really say yes or no,” Girardi said. “You wait to see where you’re at when he’s ready and then you make a decision.”
Girardi said Phil Hughes will have a test this week to determine if his rib fracture has healed. The manager said it’s possible he will begin playing catch.
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Girardi used Jose Veras to pitch the eighth inning with a 6-3 lead rather than Kyle Farnsworth because the latter had a sore biceps muscle on Saturday, and the manager wanted to give him an extra day of rest. Veras worked a scoreless eighth and Mariano Rivera worked a perfect ninth for his 16th save in as many opportunities this season. In save situations, Rivera has not allowed a run.
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Mike Mussina today will try to become the AL’s first 10-game winner as the Yankees complete their four-game series with the Royals. Mussina (9-4, 4.01 ERA) faces Luke Hochevar (3-5, 5.13). Cleveland’s Cliff Lee and Los Angeles’ Joe Saun ders, both of whom have nine victories, both have starts tonight.