Giancarlo Stanton's smashing weekend at Fenway still echoes as Yankees-Red Sox wild card game approaches

BOSTON – Each at-bat by Giancarlo Stanton brought a sense of dread to the Red Sox and sent a jolt of excitement throughout the visiting dugout at Fenway Park.

Stanton was a wrecking machine in their late September series, going 7-for-12 with 10 RBI and belting an important home run in each game of the Yankees’ three-game sweep.

That at least one of Stanton’s homers did not register closer to 500 feet by Statcast, Yankees starter Gerrit Cole suggested that Statcast “might want to recalibrate’’ its estimated distance.

“But it was pretty awesome. Just a guy that’s really special, really unique,’’ Cole said of Stanton’s signature series of 2021, coming at a critical time for the Yankees’ postseason chances.

“He wants to win, he prepares extremely hard,’’ Cole said. “I’ve really enjoyed getting to now him over the last two years and love him as a teammate.’’

Across Yankees Universe, affection over Stanton has been fickle at best.

But his recent destruction of the Red Sox offered Stanton a pass at Yankee Stadium, as he went 2-for-17 with eight strikeouts over the final five days of the regular season.

Now, the spotlight on Stanton switches to one win-or-else game in Tuesday night’s AL wild card at Fenway, against Nathan Eovaldi, who served up a monstrous three-run homer to Stanton on Sept. 24.

One night later, Stanton’s grand slam off Darwinzon Hernandez turned a one-run deficit into an eighth-inning lead.

“It was a pretty majestic moment in an important game,’’ said Cole, “which always intensifies the magic of it, I guess.

“Hopefully, he can bring it out again.’’

Lineup mystery 

Aaron Boone had not settled on Tuesday’s lineup, but the Yankees manager offered some hints about it Monday.

With DJ LeMahieu (sports hernia) out until at least the AL Championship Series, should the Yanks qualify, Gleyber Torres stood a good chance to remain as LeMahieu’s replacement in the leadoff spot.

“I don’t know yet,’’ said Boone, who planned to discuss with his coaches whether to elevate Brett Gardner or even Anthony Rizzo. But, “as I sit here right now, I’m probably thinking Gleyber’’ in the leadoff spot.

Kyle Higashioka was pairing again with Cole on the mound, leaving catcher Gary Sanchez in reserve.

Boone seemed inclined to use Stanton as his designated hitter, with Sanchez “potentially as a bat off the bench’’ as an available pinch-hitter.

Until just a few days ago, Luke Voit (left knee inflammation) was viewed like LeMahieu as a potential ALCS roster option.

But the Yankees transferred the slugging first baseman to the 60-day IL, ending his season.

The decision was based on "just the reality he wasn’t going to be in play for us and giving us a little bit of flexibility there,'' Boone said of adding right-hander Brody Koerner to the 40-man roster.

Gio Urshela good to go 

Boone did not divulge his left-side infield plans, but it’s possible that the defensively superior Andrew Velazquez starts at shortstop, leaving Rougned Odor on the bench and moving Gio Urshela back to third base.

Whether he winds up at shortstop or third base, Urshela was expected to play following Sunday’s frightening moment in pursuit of a spectacular catch.

“I think he’s going to be good,’’ Boone said of Urshela, who launched himself into the Rays’ dugout after snaring Austin Meadows’ foul pop on the dead run.

Urshela banged his left thigh, leaving a bruise, and was also left with a cut to his calf/shin area.

Yet, “if there was a game (Monday) he’d have been playing,’’ said Boone, adding that Urshela received additional treatment Monday.

Considering the distance he covered and his collision with the bench, Urshela was “incredibly fortunate’’ to walk away with just scrapes and a bruise.

“I was expecting to go over to a car accident,’’ Boone said of bolting over to check on his player. “I was really, really nervous.’’

Pete Caldera is the Yankees beat writer for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to all Yankees analysis, news, trades and more, please subscribe today and download our app.

Email: caldera@northjersey.com Twitter: @pcaldera