Harrison Bader already had spent the previous few days dealing with sore ribs after getting drilled by a pitch last Wednesday in Anaheim.
Yankee Stadium understandably was hushed briefly after the former Gold Glove-winning center fielder was slow to get up following a wall-crashing catch to rob Nick Pratto of an extra-base hit in the seventh inning of Sunday’s win over the Royals.
“Super-soft wall out there, whoever set that padding up, I appreciate it,” said Bader, who remained in the game until its completion. “Listen, we’ve got work to do. So if you can walk, you can go out there and play a baseball game and help this team win.
“Put it all aside, get ready and go out there and battle for a win. So I’m just happy specifically to reel that one in for [reliever Ian Hamilton]. It was a good one.”
Entrusted with a five-run lead, reliever Ron Marinaccio gave up two solo home runs in 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 a little bit off with his command and location, 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 fine 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 a great person to have. He knows baseball,” Severino said. “I didn’t even know. Hopefully, he can continue to come back and help us.”
Fourth-round draft pick Roc Riggio (129th overall) became the last of this year’s draft class to sign with the Yankees.
The Oklahoma State second baseman signed for $693,000, according to MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis.
“Officially a Yankee!” Riggio tweeted. “New York State of Mind.”
The Yanks released Triple-A pitcher Michael Feliz, who will sign with the Chunichi Dragons in Japan.