Anthony Rizzo returned to the Yankees’ lineup just over two weeks after breaking his right ring and third fingers, and he’s off to a strong start, but there are some questions as Rizzo replaces Oswaldo Cabrera at first base. It ended with a . It was the ninth goal of a 5-2 win over Cleveland in Game 1 of the ALCS at Stadium on Monday.
Rizzo said there was no problem with his hand, and Boone said he removed Rizzo, who hadn’t played in more than two weeks, because he was “just out there physically and mentally at the end of the game.”
The Yankees and Rizzo will wait to see how his hand responds on Tuesday before deciding whether to return to action, but there are encouraging signs from the first baseman, who hasn’t pitched since being injured the day before the end of the regular season. Ta.
Rizzo singled to center field in his first at-bat and walked for three runs in his second at-bat, but his defense showed no signs of rust until he grounded out from Brayan Rocchio with one out and first base in the first inning. . 8th.
The ball flew to the right side, and after Steven Kwan’s RBI hit to give the Yankees the lead, Luke Weaver stopped the bleeding and the Yankees continued to win.
Before the match, Rizzo admitted there would be some soreness, but was confident the atmosphere would make up for it.
“The 50,000 people in the stands and the adrenaline and what’s at stake will outweigh the pain I’m going to feel,” Rizzo said.
Most of the time it worked.
“I thought he was sharp,” Boone said. “It was really nice to see that.”
The Yankees made it through the ALDS without Rizzo on the roster, defeating Kansas City with the combination of Cabrera and Jon Barty. Both players played well as starters and had good at-bats.
Still, the Yankees said Rizzo never faced real pitches during his rehab process, only hitting back with a high-speed pitching machine and trajectories (which accurately imitate the pitches of real major league pitchers). He appointed Rizzo.
“It was a little bit of his belief and the trainers feeling like he was in a good spot,” Boone said of the decision to use Rizzo, who was hit by a pitch in his right hand on Sept. 28, which led to a broken bone. he said. A finger that typically misses a player for three to four weeks.
Rizzo did not participate on the IL, but admitted he has not healed enough to be on the ALDS roster.
By Sunday, Boone said he was “absolutely” Rizzo was ready. Rizzo wore a brace on Monday that has extra padding made to fit inside the glove.
After returning from a broken forearm (an injury that lasted 2 1/2 months) on September 1, Rizzo had an OPS of just .660 and zero home runs in 22 games.
He was much better in his last eight games with a .962 OPS, but he won’t have the same path to calm down offensively this time around.
The Yankees value the defense and veteran presence he brings to the field. Rizzo, one of only two active Yankees (along with Juan Soto) to win a World Series, knows what it takes to win at this time of year, regardless of his health.
And for the 35-year-old Rizzo, who has a $17 million team option for next year or a $6 million buyout, it was clearly important for him to be back on the roster in hopes of winning a World Series. 2016 Cubs.
“I’ve had the opportunity to play a fair amount of postseason baseball throughout my career, and that’s what playing is for,” Rizzo said. “The clock is ticking and I’m getting older. I’ll never know when I’ll get the chance to play for a pennant. I can’t take this for granted.”
— Additional reporting by Greg Joyce
