Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe scratched from lineup with upset stomach
Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe looks to first after forcing out Houston Astros' Jose Altuve at second base during the fifth inning of a baseball game Saturday, March 30, 2024, in Houston. Credit: AP/Kevin M. Cox
HOUSTON — Anthony Volpe had to run.
To the bathroom, a too frequent occurrence for more than a few members of the Yankees’ traveling party that went to Mexico City last weekend. For many of them, the effects still lingered days later.
So Volpe, originally in Sunday’s lineup at shortstop, was scratched about an hour before the game with what the Yankees described as an “upset stomach.”
Oswaldo Cabrera, 7-for-13 with two homers and a 1.615 OPS in the first three games of the season, shifted to shortstop from third. Utilityman Jon Berti, acquired via trade from the Marlins last week but blocked from seeing time because of Cabrera’s early performance, was inserted at third.
Berti made the most of the opportunity, though not at first.
He came up with Giancarlo Stanton at third and one out in the second but struck out on a full-count cutter from J.P. France. Berti come through with two outs in the fourth, though, dumping a single to right that drove in Anthony Rizzo from second and gave the Yankees a 2-1 lead.
Berti then helped Clay Holmes nail down his third save in three chances, making a diving stop on Jose Altuve’s pulled ground smash down the third-base line with runners at first and second and none out in the ninth. Berti, who saved at least one run and maybe two, stepped on third for the crucial out.
“Luckily, third base is just kind of reaction,” said Berti, who also can play short, second and all three outfield positions. “Knowing the kind of hitter he is, I was able to get a jump on it and make a good play.”
Of his day overall, Berti said: “Felt very good to go out there and help this team. I know how special a group this is and that’s what I want to do here, just do whatever I can do help this team win.”
The Yankees tipped their hand about two hours before the game when Berti came out to do infield work with first-base coach/infield coach Travis Chapman and coaching assistant Brett Weber.
Volpe worked in the offseason to improve upon what was a mostly disappointing rookie year at the plate. It paid dividends in spring training and he had a good start to the regular season (4-for-10, homer, 1.371 OPS in the first three games).
Aaron Boone, who suffered some of the same intestinal distress as Volpe after the Mexico trip, said with a half-smile: “He’s pretty ill. He was in the handshake line with a smile on, but it’s been a rough day.”
