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Josh Donaldson was meant to get a wanted respite from the boos Friday evening when he was out of the lineup towards the Rangers.
However by the tip of the evening, the jeers got here anyway.
As Donaldson’s hitting struggles have mounted (his batting common had dropped to .127 with an 0-for-3 efficiency that included booting a floor ball at third base) he has grow to be a singular goal of ire from the fan base. And boos once more stuffed the Stadium after he struck out as a pinch-hitter within the tenth inning of a 4-2, 10-inning loss.
Enjoying Donaldson in any respect wasn’t in supervisor Aaron Boone’s plan. He even used Kyle Higashioka to pinch hit within the eighth inning. However Boone lastly gave in and introduced Donaldson off the bench for Billy McKinney within the tenth — which grew to become a 1-2-3 closing inning.
“He’s performed a bunch in a row,” Boone mentioned earlier than the sport. “Simply felt prefer it was an excellent day to have him down.”
After Friday, Donaldson has simply three hits in his final 42 plate appearances courting to June 8, prompting hypothesis over whether or not his $21 million wage might go the identical manner as Aaron Hicks’ deal.
The Yankees ate the $27.6 million they owed Hicks after the outfielder suffered comparable derision from followers together with an prolonged hitting hunch.
“You are feeling for anybody going by way of that,” Boone mentioned. “However that’s the case as a result of what guys put into it, you understand how a lot they care. That’s not essentially enjoyable to undergo. Everybody handles it a bit completely different.but it surely goes with taking part in right here typically”
The singling out by followers of an underperforming, well-paid Yankees participant has reached a selected excessive during the last 12 months, with first Joey Gallo after which Hicks leaving in ignominy. Donaldson’s struggles should not all that new — his .682 OPS final season was a career-low — however the scenario has gotten far worse in 2023.
“I don’t essentially adore it, but it surely’s a part of the deal and also you gotta be capable of navigate these waters,” Boone mentioned. “It’s one of many challenges. It’s why it’s laborious to be an excellent participant on this league, or one of many causes.”
Willie Calhoun informed The Publish’s Andrew Crane that he was scheduled to obtain a platelet-rich plasma injection Friday for his left quad pressure.
After Calhoun, who was injured Wednesday evening, had an MRI examination on Thursday, Boone mentioned the pressure was “between grade 1 and a pair of.” Calhoun mentioned he doesn’t have a precise timeline for his return, however is hoping to be again in 3-4 weeks.
Harrison Bader additionally got here off the bench to pinch hit, flying out to middle within the eighth inning earlier than spelling Isiah Kiner-Falefa in middle subject for the remainder of the evening.
Nestor Cortes (left shoulder) is “in all probability per week away from getting on a mound,” Boone mentioned, including the left-hander began a throwing program a number of days in the past.
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