Gardner scratched from Yankees' lineup with stiff neck

Posted April 20, 2016 7:00 am

The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) - Brett Gardner has been scratched from the New York Yankees' lineup against Oakland with a stiff neck.

He was replaced in left field Wednesday night by switch-hitter Aaron Hicks, who batted ninth. Starlin Castro moved up to Gardner's No. 2 spot in the lineup against Athletics right-hander Kendall Graveman.

Gardner was listed in the original lineup. But during batting practice, a little more than 2 hours before game time, the Yankees announced he had been removed. He may have aggravated a lingering neck issue when he dove for Danny Valencia's sixth-inning triple Tuesday night.

The speedy Gardner has been one of the best offensive players lately for a Yankees team struggling to get timely hits. He has eight hits in his last 16 at-bats, including two doubles and a home run, and a .438 on-base percentage this season.

New York Yankees' Brett Gardner reacts after lining out to first during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday, April 19, 2016, at Yankee Stadium in New York. The Athletics defeated the Yankees 3-2 in 11 innings. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun) The Associated Press

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