When Anthony Volpe was at some of his lowest points this season, Brian Cashman and Aaron Boone each stood behind the shortstop, harkening back to what he did last October as reason to believe he was capable of more.
That faith was rewarded in Volpe’s first at-bat.
The shortstop, who made a late push to regain his starting job, was responsible for the only bit of Yankees offense on Tuesday night, homering off Garrett Crochet in a 3-1 loss to the Red Sox in Game 1 of their AL wild-card series at Yankee Stadium.
“It felt good to put us ahead,” Volpe said. “These are tight games, tight margins, so anytime you can get a lead or put something on the board or get something going, it feels good.”
Crochet threw Volpe a 97 mph sinker near the high-and-outside corner and Volpe planted it in the right field seats for the 1-0 lead in the second inning, though it did not last.
But Volpe, who played clean defense, including a nice play to his right in the first inning, finished the night 2-for-3. Both of his hits came against Crochet, who gave up just four hits across 7 ²/₃ dominant innings.
That built on his postseason success from last year, when Volpe hit .286 with a .815 OPS and consistently put together some of the best Yankees at-bats.
Tuesday’s homer marked the second of his playoff career, the other a grand slam in Game 4 of the World Series against the Dodgers here last fall.
The Yankees roster for the wild-card series included three catchers, with J.C. Escarra joining the fold at the expense of reserve outfielder Austin Slater, and Will Warren claiming a bullpen spot over lefty Ryan Yarbrough as the Yankees set out again to try to capture the franchise’s 28th championship.
Having Escarra on roster allowed Boone greater flexibility in being able to pinch hit and/or pinch run for Austin Wells and/or Ben Rice, especially when both are in the starting lineup (Rice at first base) — which they are expected to be for Game 2 against righty Brayan Bello.
“Just the protection,” Boone said. “The ability to pinch run or pinch hit in a big spot, early enough, to make sure we’re covered on the catching side of things.”
The Yankees acquired the right-handed hitting Slater at the trade deadline to help against lefty pitchers, but he struggled in limited action. He was 3-for-25 with 16 strikeouts after the trade, and since he was not going to be starting against Crochet on Tuesday, then his spot on the roster became expendable.
With the Yankees only needing three starters in this series — Cam Schlittler would get Game 3 if necessary — Warren made the roster as a reliever, with swing-and-miss stuff that could play up in the bullpen. Luis Gil was not in consideration to make it after starting Sunday’s Game 162.
“I feel like there’s some pockets where he could be really effective for us,” Boone said. “It might be in a short burst. It might be in a situation where we need length. It might be in an extra-inning situation where you are out of pitching and you got to roll.”
Yarbrough had been in the bullpen as a second lefty behind Tim Hill, though he was not as sharp since coming off the IL earlier this month for a strained hamstring and had not pitched since Sept. 16.
Boone said the Yankees were comfortable with only one lefty because a number of their righties have been effective against left-handed hitters.
Boone indicated that lefty reliever Brent Headrick was also in consideration, though he has not pitched in the big leagues since going on the IL in mid-August.
Paul Blackburn, initially signed in August for starting depth, made the roster after pitching well aside from a rough Yankees debut.
“He earned his way on,” Boone said. “He’s been really good. We got him out of need and were kind of in a little bit of a bind. He’s kind of taken it and run with some of the opportunities. He’s pitched really well this last month.”
Willie Randolph threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
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