SAN DIEGO — Carlos Beltran wasn’t in the Yankees’ starting lineup Saturday night at Petco Park and didn’t get into the 2-1 loss to the Padres. It was the fourth straight game in which Beltran didn’t start due to a strained right hamstring.
It is not likely Beltran would start Sunday in right field, and because the designated hitter is eliminated in interleague games played in NL stadiums, that means he likely would sit for a fifth straight game.
Alex Rodriguez, who briefly had been relegated to facing lefties as the DH, replaced Beltran in three games at home this past week and was used as a pinch-hitter in Friday night’s 7-6 loss to the Padres. He was 3-for-13 (.230) during that stretch and had six hits in his previous 21 at-bats (.286).
Manager Joe Girardi said he is hoping Beltran can return Monday against the White Sox in Chicago, but it might be in a DH role for the 39-year-old switch-hitter.
“[Rodriguez] has gotten some hits. The tricky thing is when Carlos comes back,” Girardi said. “That becomes the tricky thing, how he is feeling and you always want to keep his bat in the lineup.’’
Despite a .223 average and .205 (25-for-122) with a .583 OPS against right-handers, two of which will start for the White Sox, Rodriguez believes he can be an asset.
‘’I am working my [butt] off,’’ said the soon-to-be 41-year-old. “I am going to do a lot of damage. I love the challenge. It’s not the first time people have said, ‘He can’t do this.’ There is no question our team is at its best when I am in the lineup and producing.’’
Since June 1, Rodriguez is hitting .275 (25-for-91) in 24 games (22 starts) and the Yankees are 15-9 during that stretch in games in which he has played. However, his at-bats against right-handers weren’t good and he didn’t start against righties on June 26 and 27. He returned to the lineup against Rangers lefty Cole Hamels on June 28.
Though Rodriguez’s average was a step in the right direction, 21 of those 25 hits were singles. He had two doubles and two homers and is five away from reaching the 700 mark.
An RBI single in the ninth inning Friday night was Rodriguez’s 3,110th and tied him with Dave Winfield for 19th on the all-time list. Rodriguez is 6-for-26 (.231) in his career as a pinch-hitter, but since 2013 is at .500 (6-for-12) with a homer and four RBIs as a pinch-hitter.
When the Yankees acquired the switch-hitting outfielder Aaron Hicks from the Twins for catcher John Ryan Murphy this past offseason, they believed Hicks would help them against left-handed pitchers. But after starting the previous 15 games against lefties, Hicks was not in the lineup Saturday against Padres lefty Drew Pomeranz, while lefty hitters Jacoby Ellsbury and Brett Gardner started.
Hicks got one at-bat in the ninth inning after entering as part of a double-switch and grounded out against lefty reliever Brad Hand.
“He is kind of going through a tough time,’’ Girardi said of Hicks, who is batting .164 (11-for-67) against lefties and .194 overall. “So I wouldn’t assume it’s always going to be like this. He has actually hit the ball harder against lefties, but his numbers aren’t as good.’’
Hicks was at .214 (21-for-98) against righties.
Scouts from the Rangers and Nationals were back at Petco Park for the second straight game. Undoubtedly they were hoping Dellin Betances, Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman pitched so they could file reports on the relievers. Betances and Miller pitched, with Miller allowing the game-winning home run to Melvin Upton Jr. in the ninth.
All three clubs are looking for bullpen help and are expected to be aggressive before the July 31 trade deadline.
Rookie right-hander Chad Green will make his second big league start for the Yankees on Sunday. It’s part of the plan to keep CC Sabathia, who has a sore right ankle, from having to bat and run the bases. Sabathia will start Monday against the White Sox.
Green, who gave up six runs (four earned) and eight hits in four innings against the Diamondbacks on May 16, was named to the International League All-Star team this week. In 14 starts for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, he is 6-6 with a 1.54 ERA.
He was acquired from the Tigers with Luis Cessa for Justin Wilson at last December’s Winter Meetings.
Rookie Yankees righty Conor Mullee was taken out of the game in the seventh inning Friday night when his right hand went numb. The St. Peter’s College product, who has had two Tommy John surgeries on his right elbow and another procedure, had tests done Saturday and no structural problems surfaced. Nevertheless, he was placed on the 15-day disabled list and his spot was taken by Green.
“He had the thoracic outlet syndrome test and that was clean,’’ Girardi said. “That was our concern, sometimes you have that funny feeling in your hand. He saw [the Padres’] orthopedic doctor. He didn’t do any more tests with him but the exam was fine.’’
More than a year after suffering a jammed right shoulder on June 19 of last season, an injury that led to surgery, Mason Williams returned to a baseball field Saturday. The lefty hitting outfielder who batted .286 in eight big league games for the Yankees last season, went 0-for-4 as the DH for the Yankees East against the Yankees West in the Gulf Coast League in Tampa.
Williams, 24, was a fourth-round pick of the Yankees in the 2010 draft.
Didi Gregorius’ chances of being a member of the AL All-Star team are long, but what he has done in the field and at the plate can’t be ignored.
Gregorius went 1-for-4 Saturday after going 2-for-4 Friday night. In 17 games since June 14 he is batting .373 (25-for-67) with four homers and 16 RBIs. He has raised his batting average from .266 to .293.
His arm strength and accuracy are perhaps the best combination in the game.
Brian McCann’s homer in the sixth inning Friday night was his third in three games and raised his total to 13. McCann, who got Saturday off, has hit in eight of his past nine games and raised his average from .219 to .231 by going 12-for-33 with five homers.