The New York Yankees got the shot in the arm they so desperately needed Friday with the return of speedy outfielder Brett Gardner.
Gardner, who missed six straight games with an abdominal strain, is back in the lineup in left field and batting third for Game 2 of the Yankees' day-night doubleheader with the Baltimore Orioles.
The return of Gardner dispels a previous report suggesting his season was in jeopardy, a turn of events that couldn't have come at a better time for the Yankees.
New York dropped Game 1 of Friday's doubleheader after the Orioles' Jimmy Paredas hit a walk-off, two-run double in the 11th inning to drop the Yankees to 4 1/2 games back of the American League's second wild-card spot.
