Health, not October matchups, was at the front of Aaron Boone’s mind Friday as the Yankees worked through their final regular-season tune-up before the postseason. New York already knows the Red Sox are waiting in the American League Wild Card Series, beginning Tuesday.
Boone’s job now is balancing playing time with preservation. The Yankees want their regulars sharp, but they also want them whole when the games start to count for good.
“We’ll make sure the players get the work they require, and hopefully pick up a win or two while doing it,” Boone said.
Quick facts
- The Yankees open their AL Wild Card Series against Boston on Tuesday.
- Baltimore beat New York, 10-2, in the rescheduled game of a single-admission doubleheader.
- Rookie right-hander Brendan Beck allowed seven runs over five innings.
- CC Sabathia’s No. 52 was retired before the game.
- Pete Alonso hit two homers to take the AL lead with 43.
- Dylan Beavers hit a grand slam, while Jeremiah Jackson recorded an inside-the-park homer.
The afternoon carried a ceremonial feel before the Orioles turned it into a long one on the field. CC Sabathia, one of the defining Yankees pitchers of his era, saw No. 52 formally taken out of circulation.
Once play began, Baltimore did the heavier damage. Beck, making a rookie start, gave up seven runs in five innings as the Orioles built their way toward a 10-2 victory.
Alonso supplied two more home runs, bringing his total to 43 and moving him into the American League lead. Beavers added the game’s biggest swing with a grand slam in the makeup portion of the doubleheader, which was moved because of a forecast calling for poor weather Saturday.
Jackson provided another unusual entry in the box score, circling the bases for an inside-the-park home run. The Orioles had plenty of offense, and New York never found enough traction to make the game competitive.
The Yankees’ scoring came from Amed Rosario, who lined an RBI single in the fourth inning against Trevor Rogers. Rogers worked four innings in what was his last start of the season.
For Boone, the loss was less important than the condition of his roster heading into Tuesday. The Yankees have their opponent, their calendar and their October target; the remaining regular-season work is about arriving there ready.
