TORONTO — On a day when Anthony Volpe’s hot bat grew cold, he let his glove take center stage.
The Yankees shortstop made a spectacular play to end a 6-4 win over the Blue Jays on Wednesday, racing up the middle to make a sliding stop on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s hard ground ball and drawing to the first for the final. game.
“He’s a Gold Glover for a reason,” catcher Jose Trevino said. “It was a hard hit bullet. Going to his left to make that kind of play, it was a really good play.”
The Blue Jays had a runner on second at that point, who would have scored to make it a one-run game had Volpe not made the marquee play.
“It was impressive,” said Aaron Judge, who had a good view from center field. “Right when he hit it, I think it probably came to me, just put the ball in.” It makes an incredible hitch. I need to stop doubting him with these plays. He did all of this last year and will start this year. It was a pretty impressive way to end the match here.
Volpe went 0-for-5 at the plate Wednesday a day after going 0-for-4 with four strikeouts.
But he still found a way to impact the game.
“What a play,” manager Aaron Boone said. “I mean, he’s special there.”
Gerrit Cole is making progress, but he still has a way to go before he’s close to returning to the Yankees.
The reigning AL Cy Young winner threw 75 feet for a second straight day Wednesday, his first consecutive time since stopping due to elbow nerve inflammation and edema in mid-March.
“I think he’s hoping to get in four (throwing sessions) this week and then hopefully build from there,” Boone said.
Cole, who is not eligible to come off the 60-day injured list until May 27, still has other benchmarks to reach before he can step on a mound.
“I know he’ll still have to go through his catch play all next week, where hopefully he’ll have five days, four or five days and more distance,” Boone said. “Then you start moving to the mound.”
Tommy Kahnle, who gave up his pitching progression in late March, threw a bullpen session Tuesday in Tampa. He still has one or two more to go before he can face hitters in live batting practice.
Austin Wells, who went 39-for-40 in stolen bases in the minor leagues, is now 1-for-1 in the major leagues.
The catcher stole second base in the second inning Wednesday with two outs and Volpe at the plate.
New York Post
