Yankees move Aaron Judge from leadoff to No. 2 spot for Game 3
CLEVELAND — A day after Alex Rodriguez called it “ridiculous” and “gimmicky” for the Yankees to have Aaron Judge in the leadoff spot, Aaron Boone moved Judge into the two-hole for Game 3 of the ALDS against the Guardians on Saturday.
Boone moved Gleyber Torres to the top of the lineup, with Anthony Rizzo hitting third.
“I just woke up on it and just not to have all the focus on the first at-bat of the game, so he can settle in … and get him in the two-hole for a minute,’’ Boone said of his rationale. “And we feel more whole [with the lineup] than even 10 days ago.”
Boone, speaking before the game, acknowledged Judge’s slow start to the series, going 0-for-8 with a walk and seven strikeouts in the first two games, might have played a role in the switch.
“Maybe a little bit,’’ Boone said.
Judge was moved to the leadoff spot in part to get him more at-bats during his pursuit of Roger Maris’ American League and franchise home run record, as well as the fact that with DJ LeMahieu (right toe) and Andrew Benintendi (right wrist) out with injuries, the Yankees don’t have an ideal hitter to put there.
Boone went with Torres over Rizzo because he was trying to split up the only two batters who can hit from the left side, with Rizzo now third and switch-hitting Oswaldo Cabrera ninth.
Cabrera is one of the other members of the offense who got off to a slow start to the series, going hitless in eight at-bats.
Boone said the rookie is “in the fight” at the plate, despite the lack of results.
“I’m not worried about [Cabrera],’’ Boone said.
Kyle Higashioka got his first start behind the plate, catching Luis Severino for a second straight outing. Higashioka was paired with Severino when the right-hander tossed seven no-hit innings against the Rangers in his final outing of the regular season.
“[Higashioka] swung the bat well the last month or two and earned some opportunities,’’ said Boone, adding catching Severino’s no-hit bid “didn’t hurt.”
Boone didn’t second-guess either of the moves that were somewhat questioned after Game 2.
Of Jameson Taillon, who allowed all three batters he faced to reach in his first appearance out of the bullpen, Boone said he “thought he threw the [heck] out of the ball,” noting Jose Ramirez and Oscar Gonzalez both reached on bloop hits, which impacted Taillon’s approach to Josh Naylor, who doubled to center.
“He looked really good,’’ Boone said, also pointing out that Taillon was a better matchup against two lefty swingers in Ramirez and Naylor than Clarke Schmidt, who came in and finished the inning.
“[Taillon] was ready for it,’’ Boone said. “I thought it was the spot for him.”
And keeping light-hitting Tim Locastro in the game to hit for himself against Emmanuel Clase instead of going to the switch-hitting Aaron Hicks, Boone said, “I thought Tim had a good at-bat.”