Gio Urshela and Miguel Andujar are combining to keep Aaron Boone from having to make a difficult decision.
Urshela continued to strengthen his grip on the Yankees’ starting third base job with a late two-run, two-out single in Thursday’s 3-1 win over the Mariners, while Andujar went 0-for-3, and extended his hitless streak to 16 at-bats.
Urshela, who suffered a left-knee contusion Wednesday night, but entered as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning, is hitting .364 with eight RBIs with runners in scoring position this season, and is batting .404 over his past 15 games.
“What more can you say?” Boone said. “He’s been a really good player for us and he’s come up big a lot of times for us, and another time tonight.”
Urshela’s only at-bat Thursday ended up being the biggest of the game.
With two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning and the Yankees leading 1-0, Gleyber Torres was intentionally walked to load the bases, bringing up Urshela.
“I feel comfortable with him coming up to the plate,” Boone said. “I feel good about that shot with two outs there. He’s swinging the bat really well.”
Urshela took the first two pitches for strikes. Two pitches later, the Colombia native took a Connor Sadzeck fastball to right field, driving in DJ LeMahieu and Brett Gardner to give the Yankees a 3-0 lead.
“With two strikes, just trying to shorten the swing,” Urshela said. “I got a fastball and tried to put the ball in play.”
Entering the season, Urshela was a career .225 hitter in 167 games. This year, the 27-year-old is batting .354.
“Confidence is the key for me,” Urshela said. “Trying to have that confidence every game.”
That Boone has backed him as the starting third baseman has helped.
“That means a lot,” Urshela said. “That means I’ve been doing a really great job for the team and I hope I can keep doing it for the whole season.”
Andujar, who was making just his second start at third base since returning from a tear in the labrum of his right shoulder, saw no action in the field, and created little at the plate.
Last year’s AL Rookie of the Year runner-up is now 2-for-22 in his six games since returning from the injury, and remains without an extra-base hit on the season.
“Obviously just searching for it a little bit right now,” Boone said of Andujar. “Maybe a little too aggressive in some spots. He’s such a good hitter. … When you’ve been injured, you’re coming back, you’re trying to make up a little bit for lost time, trying to get it going a little bit, no doubt he will, but right now he’s just grinding through it. He’ll get there.”
