Yankees' Matt Carpenter hopes to get another chance

CLEVELAND – Before Friday, Matt Carpenter hadn’t swung a bat in a big-league game since he broke his foot on a foul ball on Aug. 8.  

But Yankees manager Aaron Boone didn’t hesitate to call on Carpenter to pinch hit for Jose Trevino with runners on first and second and two outs in the sixth inning of Game 2 of the AL Division Series on Friday with the score tied at 2. 

Guardians manager Terry Francona had already popped out of the visiting dugout at Yankee Stadium to replace starter Shane Bieber with righthander Trevor Stephan when Carpenter came out of the home dugout to cheers from the sellout crowd. 

Carpenter battled Stephan – a former Yankees farmhand who was lost to Cleveland in the Rule V draft – to 2-and-2 before striking out on a splitter. 

The Yankees went on to a 4-2, 10-inning loss. Still, Carpenter felt good about his first at-bat in more than two months and is hoping for more as the postseason unfolds. 

“It certainly felt good to be back out there,” Carpenter said on Saturday before Game 3 at Progressive Field. “Took some good swings, batted off some tough pitches, physically felt good . . . Would have preferred a different result. But physically I felt good, felt like I was seeing the ball well. Faced a really good pitcher who made some good pitches and was able to put an end to that rally we had going and get out of there. As far as how I felt and physically where I was, I felt good. I felt ready. I felt prepared. Just wasn't able to come through. Hope to get another chance.” 

Carpenter signed with the Yankees on May 26 after getting released by the Rangers’ Triple-A club and was an instant hit in pinstripes. The 36-year-old hit .305 with 15 home runs and a 1.138 OPS in 128 at-bats.  

Carpenter said his entire focus after he broke his foot was to be ready for the postseason. He didn’t spend much time doubting that it would happen. 

“I wouldn't let myself go there,” he said. “I knew that just from what the doctors were telling me, the timing was going to be close. But my mindset from the onset was that I was going to be back, however possible, in whatever role possible. So very thankful that we were able to make that happen, and now it's just about being ready when I get an opportunity and hopefully do something to help us win a game.” 

Carpenter could be an option as a designated hitter if Giancarlo Stanton is able to play the outfield. But Boone said on Saturday that using Stanton in the outfield isn’t something he has considered yet for this series. 

Carpenter played in 12 games in left and three in right this season. Would he be an option in the outfield now with his healed foot? 

“That's a good question,” he said. “I'm getting reps out there. I'm making myself available. As far as if our club feels comfortable with it is another story.” 

By Anthony Rieber

anthony.rieber@newsday.comAnthonyRieber

Anthony Rieber covers baseball, as well as the NFL, NBA and NHL. He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since July 5, 2004.