LOS ANGELES — The highlights of the Yankees’ bad Friday night at Dodger Stadium were Josh Donaldson and Giancarlo Stanton coming off the injured list and combining for three home runs in an 8-4 loss to the Dodgers.
Donaldson took Clayton Kershaw deep in the second inning, then hit a two-run bomb in the ninth facing reliever Phil Bickford. Stanton also homered off Kershaw in the fourth.
Although it took 29 pitches, reliever Tommy Kahnle pitched a scoreless inning of relief in his season debut, too.
BUY YANKEES TICKETS: STUBHUB, VIVID SEATS, TICKETSMARTER, TICKETMASTER
These were early perks of the Yankees finally getting healthier after dealing with a bunch of injuries in the first two months of the season.
But by night’s end, it was more of the same for the unlucky Yankees with outfielder Greg Allen forced out of the game with a right hip flexor.
Three days after starting center fielder Harrison Bader went on the injured list Tuesday with a mild hamstring strain, Allen started in center and left in the eighth inning.
The Yankees should find out on Saturday if Allen’s injury is serious enough that he’ll go on the 10-day injury list. Because speed is a big part of Allen’s game, he’ll likely be shelved for a while.
“You never know about these things, especially when it comes to soft tissue,” Allen said. “Obviously, having my legs underneath me definitely is one of things I’d like to have. Hopefully, it’s nothing major.”
The Yankees already have had 17 players on the IL this season for a total of 18 stints (with Bader on twice).
The Yankees acquired Allen in a May 19 trade from the Red Sox to be an extra outfielder and pinch-run specialist, but he’s started three games in a row with Bader out. In 10 games with the Yankees, four of them starts, the switch-hitter is batting .214 with one triple, one homer, one RBI and one stolen base.
If Allen goes on the IL, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who started in left for the 12th time on Friday, will get a lot of starts in center with Jake Bauers and Willie Calhoun seeing action in right and left.
Allen’s roster spot could be filled by Oswaldo Cabrera, who was farmed out during Thursday’s off day along with Cordero to create roster space for Donaldson and Stanton.
Cabrera was optioned with a .195 average, three homers, 15 RBI and a .538 OPS in 50 games.
Allen first experienced hip discomfort in the third inning of Friday night’s game when he struck out swinging facing Dodgers lefty Clayton Kershaw.
“It kind of grabbed on me on the last swing,” Allen said. “I felt it a little bit again on the second (at-bat). I wanted to try and stay in the game to finish it off, but …”
With the Yankees trailing 8-2, Willie Calhoun pinch-hit for Allen in the eighth inning.
“We’ll see how it feels tomorrow,” Allen said. “I’ll have the medical staff evaluate and see where it’s at.”
Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.
Randy Miller may be reached at [email protected].