OAKLAND -- Anthony Rizzo provided an immediate impact upon joining the Yankees, slugging homers in his first two games and driving in a run in each of his first six. But the first baseman has scuffled since returning from the COVID-19 injured list.
Rizzo went 1-for-4 with a run scored Saturday in the Yankees’ 3-2 loss to the Athletics and was out of the lineup Sunday for the series finale, yielding to Luke Voit at first base. In eight games since returning on Aug. 18, Rizzo is 5-for-31 (.161) with a double, four RBIs, two walks and eight strikeouts.
“It’s just a grind,” Rizzo said. “The swing comes and goes. Just trying to get it into the right slot and hit good pitches. It’s just part of the process -- get back to the routine and stay with the grind.”
Rizzo missed 10 team games after being diagnosed with COVID-19, and manager Aaron Boone said that the illness hit Rizzo hard for about a week. Rizzo said that he does not believe his recent dip in performance can be attributed to the stint on the IL.
“I don’t think so,” Rizzo said. “I think that I'm as good as I'm going to be. I’m just staying in the routines and staying with the process. That’s what you go to in these times. Thankfully, with this lineup, you just … figure out ways to get on. Right now [Aaron[ Judge is scorching -- [Giancarlo] Stanton, the whole lineup. You just keep continuing to grind at-bats and eventually it’ll turn.”
'Pen pal
Luis Gil was shifted to a relief role at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, a possible indication of how the Yankees plan to use the right-hander in September.
Gil pitched 4 2/3 innings out of the bullpen on Sunday in the RailRiders’ 10-5 loss at Lehigh Valley, allowing three runs and four hits. Gil walked two and struck out seven in the eventful outing, which included a benches-clearing incident later in the game.
“We want him to pitch like a starter, but we also want to see what it’s like for him coming out of the ’pen,” Boone said. “We’re making sure he’s continuing to get starter workload, but it’s also a little bit different in his routine, just for the potential of any kind of role.”
Squad up
Corey Kluber last pitched in the Majors on May 25 vs. Toronto and was an idle observer when the Yankees touched the .500 mark on July 4, dropping to 41-41 before enjoying a surge back into the postseason chase. As the right-hander prepares to return to the rotation on Monday, Kluber said he sees a club that is playing to its full capabilities.
“From the outside looking in, I feel like it’s a lot of doing small things that maybe we weren't necessarily doing early on,” Kluber said. “Some of the stuff is out of your control, but playing the game with energy and doing all the small things, the little things that don’t show up in the box score. I think those things all add up to playing a lot better brand of baseball, and, obviously, that reflects our record.”
Buck stops here
Boone entered Sunday with 312 managerial victories, needing one to tie Buck Showalter (313) for ninth place on the Yankees’ all-time list.
“I love Buck,” Boone said. “I have a good relationship with him and talk to him periodically. He’s someone that I have a lot of respect for.”
This date in Yankees history
Aug. 29, 1972: Bobby Murcer went 4-for-5 and hit for the cycle in the first game of a doubleheader against the Rangers, helping to power the Yanks’ 7-6, 11-inning victory. Murcer was the ninth Yankee to hit for the cycle.