Ellsbury sits vs lefty after string of defensive mistakes

NEW YORK (AP) Jacoby Ellsbury was out of the Yankees' starting lineup against Oakland on Tuesday night after four defensive mistakes during the first two weeks of the season and with New York facing left-hander Eric Surkamp.

Left fielder Brett Gardner took over as New York's leadoff hitter, and right-handed-hitting Aaron Hicks started in center.

Ellsbury backpedaled on J.D. Martinez's flyball and allowed it to drop a few feet in from of him for a single at Detroit on April 8, then four days later at Toronto got a poor jump on Jose Bautista's liner, allowing it to go off the wall on a hop for a two-run double.

He failed to come up throwing on Robinson Cano's single Saturday, allowing Seattle's Ketel Marte to score from first base. On Sunday, Ellsbury attempted diving catch on Nori Aoki's liner to right-center, and the ball bounced in front of him as his glove fell off.

''I don't think he's played as well as he's capable of playing. It just seems like he's misjudged the ball a couple times,'' Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.