Anthony Rizzo's impressive Yankees comeback ended early

Anthony Rizzo, who returned to the Yankees lineup just two weeks after breaking his fourth and fifth fingers on his right hand, got off to a good start, but ended with some questions as Rizzo replaced Oswaldo Cabrera at first base. ninth in a 5-2 win over Cleveland in Game 1 of the ALCS on Monday at the Stadium.

Rizzo said he didn't have any hand problems, and Boone said he removed Rizzo because “he was physically and mentally out there late in the game” after not playing for more than two weeks.

The Yankees and Rizzo will see how the arm responds Tuesday before determining whether he returns to the lineup, but there were encouraging signs from the first baseman, who hasn't faced live pitching since the injury a day before the regular season ended. .

Rizzo ripped a single to center in his first at-bat and walked in a three-run second and showed no rust on defense until he came up short with a Brian Roccio grounder. of the eighth

The ball bounced to right and after a Steven Kwan RBI single cut the Yankees' lead, Luke Weaver stopped the bleeding and the Yankees held on for the win.

Before the game, Rizzo acknowledged that he would likely be in some pain, but was confident that the environment would make up for it.

“The 50,000 people in the stands and the adrenaline and what's at stake will far outweigh the pain I'll feel,” Rizzo said.

For the most part, it worked.

“I thought he was sharp,” Boone said, “which was really good to see.”

The Yankees survived the ALDS without Rizzo on the roster, beating Kansas City with the combination of Cabrera and John Barty, both of whom played well at first and had good at-bats.

Still, the Yankees went with Rizzo even though he had not faced any live pitching in his rehab progression and hit only the high-velocity pitching machine and trajectory (which mimics the exact pitches of actual major league pitchers).

“It was just a little bit of his conviction and the coaches feeling like he was in a good place,” Boone said of the decision to activate Rizzo, who was hit on Sept. 28 by a pitch on his right hand — which breaks the fingers that usually keep a player from three. Sidelined for four weeks.

Rizzo didn't go to IL, but admitted he wasn't healthy enough to be on the ALDS roster.

By Sunday, Boone said Rizzo was “adamant” about being ready. Rizzo had a brace with extra padding to fit inside his glove on Monday.

After returning from a fractured arm — which cost him two and a half months — on Sept. 1, Rizzo had just a .660 OPS and no home runs in 22 games.

He's been much better over his last eight games with a .962 OPS, but he won't have the same runway this time around to settle down offensively.

The Yankees value his defense and the veteran presence he brings to the field. One of two active Yankees to win a World Series (along with Juan Soto), Rizzo knows what it takes to win this time of year, no matter how he feels physically.

It was also clearly important to the 35-year-old Rizzo — who has a $17 million team option or $6 million buyout for next year — to get back on the roster to have another shot at winning a World Series after doing so. Cubs in 2016.

“I've had the opportunity to play a good amount of postseason baseball throughout my career, and that's what you play for,” Rizzo said. “The clock is just ticking on my age and getting old. You never know when you'll get a chance to play for a pennant again. You can't take any of that for granted.”

– Additional reporting by Greg Joyce