Boone wowed by subs filling in for injured stars

SAN FRANCISCO -- One month has passed since Opening Day, when the Yankees sent out a starting outfield that had Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge flanking center fielder Brett Gardner. Now it's Tyler Wade and Mike Tauchman in the corners, among the many changes that Aaron Boone has had to make in response to the star-studded injured list.

"You know what? It’s been fun," Boone said Sunday. "I miss our guys all the time and feel for them and hurt for them. I know how bad they want to be out on the field, and I look forward to all of those guys at different points coming back and impacting our club. But at the same time, it’s been a lot of fun to see people come in and contribute and perform and do their job really well, to allow us to continue to win games. That’s been very rewarding."

Gio Urshela has impressed on both sides of the ball, batting .321 (18-for-55) going into Sunday's action while playing a slick third base. An unheralded acquisition from the Blue Jays last August, the 27-year-old Urshela had three hits in Saturday's 6-4 win over the Giants and is loving his opportunity on the big stage.

“I have more confidence," Urshela said. "I feel like I’m driving the ball to the gaps more than I used to. It feels really good. Everybody is doing their job and we are winning. That’s what is most important."

Asked for his biggest surprise out of the "B-Bombers" cast, Boone offered Thairo Estrada, a 23-year-old rookie infielder who gamely played left field for the first time in this series.

"Here we are a few days ago, saying, ‘Let’s see what he looks like in the outfield,’ betting on his athleticism and his makeup and to be able to go handle it," Boone said. "To have the kind of at-bats he's had since he’s come up, where he’s been pressed up here quicker than anyone imagined and to see how he’s handled it, I think is a tribute not only to him and his character, but also our organization and how they’ve gotten him ready to be able to handle these situations."

While Boone looks forward to regaining the thump that Judge, Stanton and others provide to the lineup, he has been pleased by the runs that the Yankees are generating with contact hitting, walks, bunts and stolen bases.

"I do believe guys are feeding off that a little bit and rallying around it," Boone said. "I feel like that room has gotten a lot closer through the adversity. I think they have really embraced it and wrapped their arms around the ‘Next man up, do your job,’ kind of thing. To their credit, they’ve all gone out and had a hand in helping us win games."

Let 'er rip

Luis Cessa began his career as an infielder before transitioning to the mound, and he revisited those position playing days with some healthy cuts in the ninth inning of Saturday's win, striking out against Travis Bergen. Boone said that he believed that might have affected the right-hander in the bottom half of the inning.

Cessa served up a three-run homer to Yangervis Solarte and a solo shot to pinch-hitter Erik Kratz, deleting most of what had been a six-run lead.

"It probably took a little of the edge away, maybe a little of the focus," Boone said. "Guys are having fun with it. It doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have fun with those experiences, but it’s really important that we stay hyper-focused and locked in on what we’ve got to do."

Injury updates

Clint Frazier (left ankle sprain) hit in the batting cages and ran on a treadmill on Sunday at Oracle Park. He is scheduled to run on the field this week in Arizona, and if that goes well, Frazier is expected to be able to return to the active roster within the 10-14 day window that Boone provided at the time of his Tuesday injury.

Aaron Hicks (left lower back strain) took live at-bats on Saturday at the Yankees' complex in Tampa, Fla.

Miguel Andujar (right labrum tear) is scheduled to play third base in an extended spring game on Monday, after which he will join Class A Advanced Tampa for a rehab assignment.

This date in Yankees history

April 28, 1989: Rickey Henderson hit the 36th leadoff home run of his career in a 3-1 victory over the White Sox at Yankee Stadium, snapping a tie with Bobby Bonds (35) to give Henderson sole possession of the all-time record.