NEW YORK – Anthony Volpe was on the heart of a involved huddle in the course of the eighth inning on Saturday, grimacing as his left shoulder was put by a battery of strength-test workouts on the left aspect of the Yankee Stadium infield. It appeared inconceivable to not think about a worst-case situation.
Simply days in the past, the Yankees misplaced second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. for a minimum of a month to a proper indirect pressure, and now the opposite half of their double-play mixture was saying he felt “a pop” in his shoulder after diving for a ground-ball single.
That Volpe continued to play is encouraging (supervisor Aaron Boone mentioned Sunday the outcomes of X-rays and an MRI constituted “excellent news”), although it was hardly a banner inning for the shortstop. The Christopher Morel leadoff single that ticked off Volpe’s glove sparked a comeback in opposition to Mark Leiter Jr., and the go-ahead run scored on a Volpe error because the Yankees fell to the Rays, 3-2, at Yankee Stadium. Volpe was not within the beginning lineup on Sunday, with Oswald Peraza dealing with shortstop duties.
“It occurred fast and it was scary, however after that, I felt OK and I felt like I had my energy,” Volpe mentioned on Saturday. “I’ve by no means actually had anything pop or dislocate or something like that, so I’ve nothing to match it to.”
That assertion prompts cautious optimism about Volpe’s state of affairs, although Chisholm’s expertise simply days prior would warn in opposition to any overconfidence.
After exiting Tuesday’s sport in the course of the membership’s sequence in Baltimore, Chisholm expressed nonchalance, saying it was precautionary and that he anticipated to be again within the lineup after a day or two. Chisholm was shocked when an MRI taken on Thursday in New York revealed not one, however three high-grade tears in his indirect.
“I used to be tremendous shocked once I noticed the outcomes,” Chisholm mentioned. “It’s not as unhealthy because it appears to be like on the scan.”
So now the Yankees hope to keep away from an analogous state of affairs with Volpe, their depth already being examined in a number of areas. Volpe mentioned on Saturday he was capable of swing a bat within the cages beneath the first-base grandstand and felt “good.”
“As soon as he obtained up and was shifting round, he felt superb,” Boone mentioned. “We wished to ensure strength-wise he was in a great place, and we felt like he was.”
The Rays used velocity to slide previous the Yankees, going 6-for-6 in stolen-base makes an attempt in opposition to catcher Austin Wells. Whereas Volpe flexed his shoulder between pitches within the eighth, pinch-runner Chandler Simpson swiped second base, then participated on the entrance finish of a double steal that arrange Curtis Mead’s game-tying bloop single.
“They undoubtedly ran loads in the present day and obtained good jumps,” Wells mentioned. “They gave themselves alternatives to get in scoring place. I feel that’s their sport and what they do.”
José Caballero adopted with a grounder to Volpe, who fumbled his probability at a double play, unable to file an out as Brandon Lowe trotted residence. Volpe mentioned he “was making an attempt to show two earlier than I secured the ball.”
The Yankees averted additional harm due to Cody Bellinger’s circus catch in left area, reaching excessive above his head to safe a Kameron Misner liner that appeared destined for further bases.
“I didn’t have the best first step, however I used to be glad I used to be capable of make up the bottom,” Bellinger mentioned.
The late shift spoiled a day during which Aaron Decide and Wells homered for the Yanks, with Decide lifting his team-leading eleventh — the captain’s sixth in a primary inning this season. Decide’s 71 profession first-inning homers are tied with Derek Jeter for fourth most in franchise historical past; solely Babe Ruth (126), Mickey Mantle (103) and Lou Gehrig (84) hit extra.
Ryan Yarbrough tossed 4 innings of one-run, one-hit ball in his longest outing of the season, drawing a spot begin rather than Clarke Schmidt, who was scratched from his scheduled outing on account of proper flank discomfort. Schmidt underwent an MRI on Saturday, which was clear, and mentioned he’ll put together to face the Padres on Tuesday.
Wells’ drive off Tampa Bay starter Zack Littell was the catcher’s sixth of the season, offering the Yanks with a fifth-inning lead. Eighth-inning singles by Trent Grisham and Bellinger arrange a two-on, two-out probability for Decide, who has been wonderful in all offensive conditions, together with with runners in scoring place (14-for-26, .538).
However Edwin Uceta prevailed, inducing Decide to hit a tough inning-ending grounder to shortstop Taylor Partitions.
“He’s actually particular. Clearly, you’ll be able to’t get the job performed each single time,” Bellinger mentioned.
