Bombers bits

• Yankees right-hander David Aardsma allowed two singles in two scoreless innings on Saturday for the Gulf Coast League Yankees, making his second Minor League rehab start. Aardsma could be ready to pitch at the Major League level within a month.

"Really happy with the outing today," Aardsma tweeted. "Throwing strikes and getting ahead of hitters."

• Gardner said that he plans to stop wearing a protective brace on his right elbow in about a week, and that he should be able to resume swinging a bat one week after that. Gardner hasn't played since April 17 due to an elbow strain that has had two setbacks.

• On this date in 1997, David Cone set the Yankees' all-time single-game high for a right-handed pitcher with 16 strikeouts in a 5-2 win over the Tigers in Detroit.