For the first time this season, Gleyber Torres was allowed to take a deep breath.
Torres was left out of the starting lineup Saturday for the first time in 21 games.
Manager Aaron Boone said he wants to make Jermai Jones his first start of the season.
Through the first 20 games of the season (a small sample size, but no longer insignificant), Torres hit .197 with a .527 OPS.
Both numbers dropped slightly in the 10th inning on Saturday when pinch-hitter Torres grounded out to third base with a potential tying hit for Taylor Trammell.
“I’m always surprised when Gleyber struggles, but that’s inevitable in hitting because he’s such a good hitter,” Boone said before a 2-0 loss to the Rays in the Bronx. . “I feel like it’s just a matter of time. … The spring that he put together was really, really strong.”
Torres may have been the team’s most consistent offensive producer last season, a mid-range threat with an .800 OPS and 25 home runs.
Torres is aiming for his first home run of the season and hasn’t hit the fence in 42 consecutive games since late last year.
“He’s missing some pitches that would normally do damage, foul or swing a little bit,” Boone said.
This is an important season for Torres, a free agent who has repeatedly said he wants to remain with the Yankees.
Jones, who played second base, had 0 hits for 3 at bats and had two strikeouts.
Giancarlo Stanton was also removed from the lineup, and Aaron Judge was shifted to designated hitter for the day game after the night game.
Boone also said he hopes to find time for center fielder Trent Grisham. Grisham made his fifth start and went 1-for-4 with an outfield assist.
In the seventh inning, Stanton’s pinch hitter grounded out into a double play.
Juan Soto, who is 2-for-4, has reached base safely in 19 of 21 games this season.
“He embodies what we’ve always wanted as an offense,” Boone said before the game. “Over the years, at certain times, we’ve had offenses like that. He embodies that. Right now, culture-wise in our hitting group, we’re really tough and thorough.” I think there’s a real sense of pride in having a great at-bat.”
Clay Holmes, who pitched nine scoreless innings, has not allowed an earned run in 11 relief appearances this season.
The strikeout from Curtis Meade was Holmes’ 300th career punchout.
Infielder Kevin Smith, who was designated for assignment Thursday, was granted waivers and will be transferred to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
