Oswaldo Cabrera is embracing all of it. He made a special salute when the crowd chanted his name during roll call Wednesday night and Thursday when he got his first major league hit, a double, the 23-year old mimed ripping the pin out of a grenade and lobbing it. Cabrera, who also had a single on Thursday night, was about the only bright spot in the Yankees 9-2 loss to the Blue Jays at the Stadium on Thursday night.
“It was amazing,” Cabrera said of his fourth-inning double to right-center field. “I can’t describe how that feels. At that moment I was just in the sky, I was in the sky at that moment.”
His parents were in the stands celebrating their son’s first big league hit and they will be getting the ball as a memento of his accomplishment.
“I got the ball. Yeah, I got the ball right there and it’s gonna be for my father,” Cabrera said. “He is the person who made this happen for me and my mom and that ball has to be for him.”
Cabrera said his dad, Leobardo Cabrera, was a professional volleyball player back in their native Venezuela and he not only prepared him and his brother, who plays in the Twins organization, to be professional athletes, but sacrificed to get them here.
“He helped me in everything. I have the type of father who doesn’t buy something for himself, he bought everything for us,” Cabrera said. “Like he’s not eating that night. But he makes sure that we get food. That’s the type of guy who he is for his children.”
Cabrera also tried to get the Yankees lifeless offense going with a lead-off single in the seventh, but he was stranded at second when Aaron Judge struck out to end the inning.
STANTON UPDATE
Giancarlo Stanton is close to finishing up his rehab workouts and heading out on a rehab assignment, Boone said.
“He’s working out again today. If that goes well, it could start this weekend,” Boone said. “Possibly even tomorrow.”
Stanton has been on the injured list with left Achilles tendinitis since July 24.
The Yankees have missed his bat. Stanton was hitting .228/.309/.498 with an .807 OPS and 24 home runs when he went on the injured list with tendinitis in his left Achilles July 24.
CLOSED
With Clay Holmes on the injured list and struggling before that, the Yankees are mixing and matching their closing assignments. Wednesday night Aroldis Chapman gave them more reason to doubt he can be the answer. Scott Effross is looking like he could step into the role.
Boone like how he has handled high-leverage spots like Wednesday night.
“He’s intense out there, but he’s got weapons to get people out. So there’s a confidence that he has out there because he knows that if he executes, he’s got a chance to get you out,” Boone said. “So he’s really diligent. He’s really competitive. There’s an intensity to him. So I’m sure coming to a new team here, coming into a pennant race, all that, I’m sure some of these situations have been nerve-racking, anxious moments, but I feel like he’s done a really good job of handling some of the toughest spots really well.”
BRITTON UPDATE
Zack Britton, who had elbow reconstruction surgery last October, is scheduled to face live hitters again on Saturday and is getting close to a rehab assignment.
“I’m not sure if it’s another live (batting practice) or if he’s starting to get to (rehab) games,” Boone said.
The Yankees don’t want to get too far ahead of themselves in Britton’s rehab.
“I don’t want to put that on Zack,” Boone said. “Like my biggest thing with him right now and even message to him right now. It’s just like it’s gone really well for him. I think he’s been really pleased with the rehab process and in each step, and he’s doing really well. So if he gets back to us to that point to where he’s contributing, great and if it’s in that highest of leverage role, great, but for me, this is about I want Zack to get back healthy and all the way.”
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