BALTIMORE — Aaron Boone said he hasn’t talked to Luke Voit since Sunday, but the decision to have hernia surgery hasn’t been made.
“I know Sunday he was very encouraged about how he is feeling,’’ Boone said of the first baseman, who has been on the IL since leaving a July 30 game. “But this week is doing a lot of core exercises. When that decision comes, hopefully maybe over the next week or so.’’
First, Voit will test the injury with a bat and ball.
“It will get to the point where he’s doing baseball activities,’’ Boone said.
If surgery is required, Voit’s season is over. The Yankees would turn to DJ LeMahieu for the bulk of first base work and wait to see if Edwin Encarnacion can make it back from a fractured right wrist suffered on Aug. 3.
Mike Ford was elevated from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Aug. 3 and started two games. He was in the lineup for Tuesday night’s game and went 1-for-5 in the Yankees’ 9-4 win over the Orioles at Camden Yards.
Until a fierce storm hit Camden Yards after 5 p.m., Gio Urshela was going to use batting practice to see how his legs felt. But the Yankees’ BP was forced indoors by the violent thunderstorm that drenched the ballpark.
Urshela wasn’t in Boone’s starting lineup and did not play for a second straight game after fouling balls off his right knee and left shin Sunday night against the Red Sox.
“Obviously, he feels a little bit better today,’’ said Boone, who started DJ LeMahieu at third for the second straight game and 32nd of the season.
Asked about the production the Yankees have gotten from the bottom third of the lineup lately, Boone’s response was direct.
“We have good players. I think there are expectations here where guys are going to come up and know they’re going to be counted on. I know they’re going to be expected to go out and perform,’’ Boone said.
In the last five games, the No. 7, 8 and 9 hitters are batting .373 (22-for-59) with four homers and 10 RBIs.
Stephen Tarpley was sent to SWB after giving up two runs and six hits in two innings.



