Giancarlo Stanton had played in just nine games for the Yankees this season and hadn't appeared in pinstripes since June 25.

But on Wednesday night, the Yankees' outfielder dug into the box in the top of the second inning against the Angels, his first at-bat in nearly three months.

Facing Angels lefty Dillon Peters, Stanton quickly fell behind 0-2, but he took a couple of pitches and fouled another off to push the at-bat past five pitches, and on the sixth pitch, Stanton roped a double into the left-center field gap, much to the delight of Yankees fans in attendance.

"For not being out there for a few months, I felt good in the box and moved around pretty well in the outfield, so it's a good start," Stanton said afterwards.

"You've just got to lock it in and go with what you know. If it's going to take a little bit of time it will, but it will be back and forth for a little while, and I have a week and a half to figure it out."

The right-hander played six innings in left field for Yankees and went 1-for-3 at the plate, with his sole hit being that second-inning double. He looked comfortable at the plate and in the field, nearly throwing out a runner at the plate in the top of the third inning.

Stanton has been out of the Yankees lineup for virtually the entire season, and with his latest knee injury causing a lengthy recovery process, he was unable to play in a minor league rehab assignment since all of those seasons have come to an end.

Now, he hopes to continue building his strength over the season's final stretch and be a key contributor as the Yankees move into the postseason.

"You've just got to roll with what you've got," Stanton said. "I worked to get back and I'm here now, so using these games as a tune-up and be ready for the playoffs.

"I'd like to play as much as I can to get at-bats, but I've still got to be smart with not being able to go on a rehab assignment at all. Just have to build it up and get it right."

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