BALTIMORE — On July 9, Brett Gardner was hitting .260 with a .352 on-base percentage, and that was in line with the veteran Yankees outfielder’s major league career numbers of .264 and .344.
Nevertheless, since then Gardner has hit .225 (32-for-142) with a .315 on-base percentage and the Yankees have slipped from being 2 ½ games off the AL East lead to 9 ½ entering Friday night’s game against the awful Orioles at Camden Yards.
Because Gardner hits leadoff against right-handers and has been dropped to seventh and ninth versus lefties, he was asked if that might play a part in the decline.
“I don’t think so. I have the same approach no matter where I hit in the lineup,’’ said Gardner, who turns 35 Friday. “It hasn’t had too much of an effect one way or another.’’
Batting leadoff, Gardner carries a .244 average (95-for-389) and a .340 on-base percentage into Friday night’s action. He is 3-for-12 (.250) with a .308 on-base percentage hitting seventh and 6-for-24 (.250) with a .296 on-base percentage in the ninth spot.
“I’ve been inconsistent and it’s been a little bit of everything, timing and mechanics,’’ said Gardner, who is hitting lefties better (.248) than righties (.241), but has a higher on-base percentage (.339) against right-handers than left-handers (.328).
How Gardner and the Yankees finish could play a big part in the club picking up a $12.5 million option. There is a $2 million buyout.
CC Sabathia is slated, Friday, to make his first start since Aug. 12. He went on the DL the next day with an inflamed right knee.
Sabathia threw two bullpen sessions while on the shelf and didn’t report a problem with the hinge.
Before going on the DL, Sabathia beat the Rangers 7-2 by throwing six scoreless innings in which he allowed one hit and struck out seven.
He is 7-4 with a 3.32 ERA in 22 starts and has worked 119 ¹/₃ innings.
To make room on the 25-man roster, right-hander Chance Adams was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after Wednesday night’s loss in Miami, in which Adams gave up four runs (three earned) and four hits in 1 ²/₃ innings.
The Orioles are the worst team in baseball with a 37-90 record, but the Yankees have split a dozen games with the Birds this season.
They are 4-2 at Camden Yards, but 2-4 in The Bronx.
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