Brett Gardner is back in the New York Yankees’ lineup after missing five games

The left fielder was the leadoff hitter for Friday night’s game at Tampa Bay.

”He’s been anxious to get back the last couple of days http://www.bengalsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-ryan-finley-jersey ,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. ”Kind of our igniter, our heartbeat to a degree.”

The Yankees also got good news regarding right-hander Masahiro Tanaka, who went on the 10-day disabled list June 9 with a strain in both his right and left hamstrings.

Tanaka did long toss and threw at 60 feet on level ground Friday, and is set for his first bullpen session Sunday. If things go well, Tanaka would have another mound session Tuesday at the Yankees’ spring training complex in Tampa and take part in a simulated game later in the week.

”Another step along the way Renell Wren Jersey ,” Boone said. ”He’s progressing well.”

Gardner entered Friday hitting .258 with five homers, 21 RBIs and 42 runs scored in 59 games.

Giancarlo Stanton started in right field with Aaron Judge as the designated hitter.

Jacoby Ellsbury, out all season with a number of injuries including an oblique strain and sore back, still has not resumed baseball activities. The Yankees haven’t completely ruled out Ellsbury playing this season but Boone had ”no clue” when the outfielder might be back.

”We’re trying to get him to the point to where he’s back doing his baseball activities,” Boone said. ”He still to clear some hurdles.”

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The New York Giants interviewed Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur on Saturday for their vacant head coaching job.

Shurmur met with co-owner John Mara http://www.bengalsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-michael-jordan-jersey , general manager Dave Gettleman, and assistant general manager Kevin Abrams in Bloomington, Minnesota.

The Vikings (13-3) have a first-round bye in the playoffs.

The 52-year-old Shurmur, who had a two-year stint as the Cleveland Browns’ head coach, was the fourth person the Giants have spoken in their search to find a replacement for Ben McAdoo Greedy Williams Jersey , who was fired on Dec. 4 after less than two years on the job.

Giants interim Steve Spagnuolo was interviewed Wednesday and New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels were interviewed Friday in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

Shurmur has been a part of teams that have qualified for the playoffs nine times and won seven division titles. He was Philadelphia’s quarterbacks coach when the Eagles played in the Super Bowl against New England in the 2004 season.

Shurmur is finishing his second year with the Vikings. He began last season as the tight ends coach and for the final nine games was also the offensive coordinator, the title he retained this season.

The Vikings finished 10th in the NFL in scoring (23.9 points), 11th in total yardage (356.9), and seventh in rushing yardage (122.3) this season. He also helped quarterback Case Keenum have a career year.

Shurmur posted a 9-23 record in his two seasons (11-12) with the Browns http://www.brownsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-sione-takitaki-jersey , going there after a two-year stint as the offensive coordinator with the Rams. He spent three seasons as the Eagles offensive coordinator after being fired.

Shurmur’s NFL coaching career began with a 10-year run (1999-2008) in Philadelphia. He coached in college at Stanford and Michigan State.

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