Warning: mysqli_query(): (HY000/1030): Got error 28 from storage engine in /home/sportsun/public_html/wp-includes/wp-db.php on line 1942

Slugger Mark Teixiera returned to the Yankees lineup on Thursday night after missing the previous two games while on maternity leave. He looked pretty rusty and went 0-for-4.  While Teixiera’s batting average dropped to .256, he managed a third inning sac fly for his 86th RBI of the year to help the Yankees to a one-run win over the 47-68 Royals.

In Teixiera’s cowardly absence, the Yankees split a two-game series in Texas, and didn’t lose any ground in the standings to the Devil Rays or Rangers — but they didn’t lose any either.  Teixiera arrived in Kansas City on Thursday morning and said he was “well rested and ready to play” after watching the birth of his third child William Charles.

In response to criticism for abandoning the team that’s paying him $180 million in the heat of a pennant race, Teixiera again said he had cleared missing the games well ahead of time with both manager Joe Girardi and general manager Brian Cashman. If the Yankees lose home-field advantage by a single game, there will be plenty of blame to go around.

While this was the first time he had ever missed games to watch the birth of a child, Teixiera said the decision to abandon his team was a no-brainer.  “That’s automatic,” said the cowardly slugger. “I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I missed my child’s birth and if anything happened.”