MIAMI — After not playing the field for more than two years, Giancarlo Stanton was back in left field on Saturday for a second straight game.
“He came in feeling good [Saturday] and he looked really good [Friday],” Aaron Boone said before the Yankees’ 4-2 win over the Marlins at loanDepot Park.
Afterward, Stanton said he “felt comfortable” in the outfield, though he’s yet to be challenged.
Boone remained hopeful Stanton could become an option in the outfield, even when the Yankees are playing in American League parks, which would enable them to use other players in the DH spot.
“I was really encouraged,’’ Boone said of what he saw from Stanton defensively on Friday. “Not surprised. He’s always been a very good outfielder.”
If Stanton’s body allows, he could conceivably play the field once or twice a week, according to Boone.
That could wind up being important, especially after the Yankees held onto Luke Voit at Friday’s trade deadline, even after the acquisition of Anthony Rizzo, who is now the regular first baseman.
Voit is still taking swings and regaining his form while on the IL with left knee inflammation.
Boone said he believes Voit can still be a key player on the roster, despite an obvious spot.
“There’s no denying what a good player and hitter Luke Voit is,’’ Boone said. “Situations can change hourly. … We’ll get him at-bats and get him rolling. We know what he can mean and there are avenues to get him out there.”
Boone said they would evaluate those possibilities “day by day and week by week.”
And he’s not worried about the potential role change impacting Voit’s attitude.
“In the end, he’s a pro,’’ Boone said. “He’s gone in and worked his tail off the last couple days to make sure he’s physically ready.”
Gio Urshela and DJ LeMahieu were both held out of the starting lineup again on Saturday.
Urshela is dealing with a tight left hamstring, while LeMahieu is out with a strained right triceps.
LeMahieu underwent an MRI exam Saturday that showed the strain that Boone said “shouldn’t be something that keeps him out too long.”
Urshela pinch-hit and struck out in the Yankees’ win over the Marlins and though Boone said both players were day-to-day, he added Urshela is “doubtful” for Sunday’s series finale and LeMahieu “might not start.”
Domingo German wore a ‘16’ on his hat during his start to pay tribute to Jose Fernandez, the former pitcher that starred with the Marlins before being killed in a boating accident in 2016.
German, who allowed two runs in four innings, spent time in the Marlins’ system and knew Fernandez, who would have turned 29 Saturday.
“He was a really good person,’’ German said of Fernandez through an interpreter. “He made sure we had spikes and sneakers, were doing the right things and was always giving us good advice.”
Joey Gallo was slumping before his trade to the Yankees from Texas and he’s still looking for his first hit with his new team. He walked and was robbed of a single in the ninth by Jazz Chisholm. Gallo is now 2-for-36 with four runs, a homer, three RBIs, three walks and 18 strikeouts in his last 11 games.
Clay Holmes entered with a two-run lead in the seventh and didn’t allow a baserunner. Acquired from Pittsburgh in exchange for minor leaguers Hoy Park and Diego Castillo, Holmes impressed Boone with “electric stuff.”
“It pops off the screen,’’ said Boone, who avoided Zack Britton and Aroldis Chapman because they had pitched in three of four days. “You can’t lean on everyone, every night.”
Left-hander Andrew Heaney, acquired in a trade with the Angels on Friday, was placed on the roster Saturday. Boone said he was scheduled to start Monday in The Bronx, with Cortes going back to a long-relief/spot starter role. To make room on the roster for Heaney, right-hander Sal Romano was designated for assignment. Romano threw 2 ¹/₃ shutout innings in two innings with the Yankees.
Clarke Schmidt had his rehab assignment moved to Low-A Tampa on Saturday. He’s coming back from a strained elbow suffered during spring training.
“We just want to get him going and get his season on track to get built up where he can pitch the final months,’’ Boone said.
It’s becoming less likely that Deivi Garcia will get back to The Bronx anytime soon, as his nightmare season continued Saturday when he allowed four runs — and three homers — in just one inning for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
