ARLINGTON, Texas — Derek Jeter knew former President George W. Bush was going to be at Globe Life Park Wednesday night. What Jeter didn’t know was Bush was going to be part of the pregame ceremony honoring Jeter’s final game in Texas.
“I didn’t know he was coming on the field, that’s a pretty special feeling,’’ said Jeter, who was presented a picture of Bush and the Yankees’ captain in the batting cage of the old Yankee Stadium before Game 3 of the 2001 World Series, when Bush threw out the first pitch. “That’s a memory I will have for a long time and be able to brag to a lot of people. Not too many people can say they had the President come out and honor [you] in a ceremony. It meant a lot to me.’’
Long-time Rangers Michael Young and Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez, a Yankee teammate of Jeter’s for a short time in 2008, presented Jeter with a pair of cowboy boots and a $10,000 check for his Turn 2 Foundation.
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Visiting Jeter in the clubhouse before the Yankees’ 3-2 loss Wednesday night was Arlington resident Vernon Wells, a Jeter teammate last season.
When Ichiro Suzuki didn’t start Tuesday night against Nick Martinez of the Rangers, it marked the first time since May 31 Ichiro wasn’t in the lineup against a right-hander. When Ichiro wasn’t in manager Joe Girardi’s lineup against right-hander Colby Lewis, who he had terrific numbers against, it might have been a sign Ichiro’s days as a Yankee are numbered.
Instead of playing Ichiro, who was hitting .358 (19-for-53) against Lewis, Girardi used neophyte switch-hitter Zoilo Almonte, who never faced Lewis, in right.
“I’m just giving him some days like I am doing with Brian Roberts,’’ Girardi said of Ichiro. Roberts was out of the lineup for the second straight game. “And evaluate it every day.’’
Not helping the 40-year-old Ichiro is the fact he is in a 3-for-22 (.136) slide. Because Almonte has more power from the left side, Girardi went with him and hinted if Almonte produces, he could play more.
“If he ran into something it would be helpful,’’ Girardi said. “If you get the opportunity and get hot, you’re going to get more chances, no doubt about it.’’
Almonte went 0-for-3.
Roberts, who has two hits in 17 at-bats (.118), sat while Brendan Ryan started a second straight game at second base.
Ryan was hitless in three at-bats and jammed his left thumb trying to tag out Leonys Martin on a stolen base at second in the eighth.
“He got me good,’’ Ryan said. “It feels like when you catch a basketball wrong.’’
Ryan said he didn’t go for tests.
After playing seven straight games at first and then catching Tuesday night, Brian McCann was on the bench when the hot-hitting Francisco Cervelli, who went 0-for-3, caught Hiroki Kuroda.
“It’s just a day off, he has played a lot,’’ Girardi said of McCann, who has hit .291 (25-for-86) in his last 22 games.
Cervelli’s 10-game hitting streak was snapped. He still has at least one hit in 12 of 14 games. During this stretch he is hitting .354 (17-for-48).