Major League Baseball

Yankees sleep over in Boston before trip to Toronto

Published May. 4, 2015 9:07 p.m. ET

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TORONTO (AP) The New York Yankees decided to sleep over in Boston after sweeping the Red Sox and get some extra rest before crossing into Canada.

With the blessing of Major League Baseball, the Yankees remained in Boston following Sunday night's game at Fenway Park, then flew to Toronto late Monday morning, arriving about seven hours ahead of their game against the Blue Jays.

Manager Joe Girardi said the decision allowed his team to remain on a ''normal'' sleep schedule.

''We would have got (to Toronto) at 4 or 4:30 in the morning,'' Girardi said. ''You encourage your players not to go to bed at that time unless we're traveling.''

Although the commissioner's office does not insist on teams arriving in a new city the night before a series begins, rather than the day of, MLB does ask teams to keep it informed of their travel plans. The Yankees informed MLB of their intent to stay in Boston and got no opposition.

Girardi, whose team usually plays several Sunday night games each year, believes clubs should get a day off Monday if they have to travel after playing a prime-time game on Sunday night.

''I think we've said it enough publicly that if you're traveling, you should have the day off,'' Girardi said. ''You talk about wanting to keep your starters on the field. Physically, it makes it really hard. It's just really difficult sometimes with the schedule.''

Girardi rested catcher Brian McCann and first baseman Mark Teixeira on Monday night, but said those decisions weren't motivated by the travel and quick turnaround time.

If his players approve, Girardi said the Yankees might use the same travel strategy again this season.

''I'll get a pulse of everybody tomorrow and see what they think,'' he said.

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