Aaron Boone wanted Miguel Andujar to rest. But with two weeks left in the season, and home-field at stake in a likely one-game playoff, the manager may be reluctant to give his third baseman another day off.
After starting 37 of the previous 38 games, Andujar was left out of the lineup for the first time since Sept. 5, yet still nearly carried the Yankees to a comeback in Saturday’s 8-7 loss to the Blue Jays, hitting his second career grand slam.
Andujar initially entered as a pinch-hitter for Brett Gardner in the sixth inning, and drew a walk to load the bases, but Andrew McCutchen followed by striking out on three pitches, leaving the Yankees down by four.