Aaron Hicks’ good fortune didn’t last long.
After picking up his first extra-base hits of the season in his previous two games, Hicks left Tuesday’s game against the A’s before the fourth inning with left hip tightness.
He will be reevaluated on Wednesday.
Hicks started in left field and walked and scored in the Yankees’ five-run third, but was removed after the inning, with Oswaldo Cabrera moving from third base to left and Isiah Kiner-Falefa entering at third.
Hicks, having another brutal season, picked up a double on Sunday at Tampa Bay and followed it up by hitting his first home run Monday night against the A’s in The Bronx.
Based in part on those results, Aaron Boone opted to start Hicks in left on Tuesday.
Asked if the decision was based on matchups or Hicks’ recent uptick in production, Boone said, “A little bit of both.”
Boone and the Yankees are hoping the pair of productive days at the plate alleviate some of the pressure Hicks has been under during what’s been an abysmal start to his season after a miserable 2022.
“He’s been working hard,’’ Boone said. “There’s definitely a little weight [off] and a little relief when you get some results or a big hit. Hopefully the last couple of days of getting some firsts [of the season] out of the way or you come through in a spot. You hope that will settle down someone and build on momentum.”
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