Harrison Bader already had spent the previous couple of days coping with sore ribs after getting drilled by a pitch last Wednesday in Anaheim.
Yankee Stadium understandably was hushed briefly after the previous Gold Glove-winning center fielder was slow to rise up following a wall-crashing catch to rob Nick Pratto of an extra-base hit within the seventh inning of Sunday’s win over the Royals.
“Super-soft wall on the market, whoever set that padding up, I appreciate it,” said Bader, who remained in the sport until its completion. “Listen, we’ve got work to do. So for those who can walk, you may go on the market and play a baseball game and help this team win.
“Put all of it aside, prepare and go on the market and battle for a win. So I’m just glad specifically to reel that one in for [reliever Ian Hamilton]. It was one.”
Entrusted with a five-run lead, reliever Ron Marinaccio gave up two solo home runs within the ninth inning of Sunday’s 8-5 win.
The righty has allowed seven earned runs on 10 hits in eight innings over nine appearances in July after allowing zero earned runs in eight June appearances.
“Just been just a little bit off together with his command and placement, but I actually felt that his last outing or two had been pretty good coming into this one,” manager Aaron Boone said. “It’s that wonderful line between really commanding it … and being a tick off.”
Sunday’s starter Luis Severino endorsed the return to the Yankees of former All-Star pitcher Andy Pettitte as an advisor to Boone and pitching coach Matt Blake.
“The last two days, I’ve been talking to him. He’s an incredible person to have. He knows baseball,” Severino said. “I didn’t even know. Hopefully, he can proceed to return back and help us.”
Fourth-round draft pick Roc Riggio (129th overall) became the last of this 12 months’s draft class to sign with the Yankees.
The Oklahoma State second baseman signed for $693,000, in response to MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis.
“Officially a Yankee!” Riggio tweeted. “Recent York State of Mind.”
The Yanks released Triple-A pitcher Michael Feliz, who will sign with the Chunichi Dragons in Japan.
