Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Dustin Ackley is playing second base these days “because of the way he’s playing.”
But Ackley also is playing because of the way Stephen Drew is feeling.
Drew has been dealing for more than two weeks with dizziness and balance issues as the result of an inner ear infection, the infielder said. Drew also was tested for a concussion after a grounder that flicked off his glove caught him above the eye 16 days ago.
“It’s been about 2¹/₂ weeks of maybe an inner-ear infection that’s messed with the vestibular, meaning I felt dizzy, trying to get over being dizzy and that unbalanced feel,” said Drew, referring to the inner-ear system that controls balance and eye movements.
Drew, who last played Sept. 22, suffered a concussion in 2013 when hit by a pitch. During a doubleheader with Toronto Sept. 16, while suffering a cold that caused a fluid buildup in his ear, he was hit by the ball that he deflected with his glove. On Saturday, with the ensuing discomfort “constant,” he underwent concussion tests.
“I haven’t seen the results, but I think it’s going to be OK. It’s the inner ear, trying to get my balance back and the dizziness to go away,” said Drew, who maintained he has been available to play, taking grounders and batting practice.
“Since I had the [2013] concussion, the inner-ear nerve could be affected by this inner-ear infection. It throws your balance off,” Drew said.
Girardi has been naturally cautious, and Ackley’s contribution since coming off the disabled list for a strained lower back has eased the problem. Ackley smashed his third homer as a Yankee Sunday during the 6-1 victory over the White Sox at the Stadium. His solo shot leading off the sixth extended the lead to 2-0.
“He’s healthy and he’s made some slight adjustments,” Girardi said of Ackley’s surge, noting the lefty hitter formerly worked with hitting coach Jeff Pentland in Seattle.
“My lower half was always my problem in the past when I got in trouble. He has really helped me find my base,” Ackley, one of eight lefties or switch hitters who started Sunday, said of Pentland.
Girardi said he plans to start Rob Refsnyder Monday against Boston lefty Eduardo Rodriguez.
“I’m just focusing on each and every at-bat,” said Ackley, the trade-deadline pickup who said he has not thought about the postseason roster. “I didn’t come here expecting to be handed at-bats. I came here to try to help.”