Amid a concerning slump at the plate since returning from the injured list, Giancarlo Stanton’s focus has been both simple and direct.
It’s finally starting to reap its first rewards.
Stanton played a key role in the Yankees’ eighth-inning rally during the team’s 5-3 win over the Rangers at the Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
He drilled a line drive — with a 96.6 mph exit velocity — to left field for an RBI single, extending the Yankees’ lead to 5-3.
“Be better, that’s what I’m working on,” Stanton said bluntly after the game when asked if there was anything specific about his approach he was focusing on.
Since returning from a hamstring injury earlier this month, Stanton entered Sunday slashing .109/.197/.236 with two homers, two RBIs and 20 strikeouts in 61 plate appearances.
But he entered the weekend without a hit in 22 at-bats before a single on Saturday.
He added two more strikeouts Sunday before the single.
But even prior to the hit, Aaron Boone said he was encouraged with what he saw from his slugger.
“[The hit] was big,” Boone said. “I kind of felt the first take he had, I kind of leaned over to [bench coach Carlos Mendoza] and said ‘I like that.’ It was a borderline pitch, strike one. Then the next take I thought looked the part a little bit to me even more. And then he’s able to really hit one well to left there, so good to see.
“Hopefully we build on that. Obviously, we know when he gets going how much of a problem he is for the opposition.”
Stanton made a point to push back on the notion that he had turned a corner, and went out of his way to avoid making any excuses for his struggles.
He did, however, echo Boone’s sentiment about the pitches he took during his eighth-inning at-bat, and how important that discipline is to his approach at the plate.
Regardless, it’s a step in the right direction, and a welcome development for the Yankees.
With their offense scuffling since Aaron Judge went on the injured list with a sprained right toe, the Yankees are counting on Stanton to help provide much of the firepower that’s gone missing.
“I got a lot to do. It’s good for now, but that doesn’t clear it for me,” Stanton said. “For me, I’m not doing what I’m supposed to do regardless of who’s on the field, regardless of anything. … It’s a results-based place. Just gotta figure out how to do it.”
