Cougar in The Bronx

Gardner living the dream and wearing pinstripes

Kathy Willens
AP

The New York Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long (left) and Mariano Rivera (right) congratulate former College of Charleston star Brett Gardner after he hit the game-winning RBI single Sunday against the Boston Red Sox.

Just three years removed from his days as a College of Charleston baseball player, Brett Gardner is suddenly in the starting lineup for the New York Yankees.

Talk about living the dream.

"It's been pretty surreal," Gardner said in a phone interview Monday, less than a week after he was called up to the big leagues to replace New York left fielder Johnny Damon, who is out with an injury. "The first day up here was just crazy, just getting situated and dealing with all the media.

"Everybody has treated me great and really accepted me. What helps out a lot is that I've been to the last two years in spring training with these guys. So I know everybody and I really feel at home."

Even more so after Gardner's game-winning hit Sunday night in the bottom of the 10th inning to beat the rival Boston Red Sox, 5-4, on national television.

"That was pretty cool," said Gardner, who played for the Cougars (2002-2005) and was picked by the Yankees in the third round. "It really helped that I had seen (pitcher Jonathan Papelbon) a few times and had a feel for his pitches."

Gardner came to the plate having just two hits in 20 at-bats for the Yankees, but made the most of the opportunity.

"I think he got that pitch a little higher than he wanted to," Gardner said of the winning hit. "I just happened to hit one up the middle and it got past the shortstop. It was a good feeling. It definitely gives you some self confidence to do something like that."

Jeter and A-Rod

Cool, calm and collected, Gardner has always been a hitter. During his senior season with the Cougars he led the nation with 122 hits. Once in the minor leagues, his steady bat became his trademark as he was hitting .287 with a .412 on-base percentage for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, the Yankees' Triple-A team.

When Damon injured his left shoulder last week, Gardner got the call of a lifetime. But, typical of Gardner, who grew up on an Orangeburg County farm near Holly Hill, he hasn't let the bright lights blind him.

"It was neat walking into the Yankees' clubhouse," the 24-year-old Gardner said. "But, you know, I'd been in there before, just for a tour, back when I was playing (minor league ball) at Staten Island."

So, how cool is it to put on those pin stripes?

"It's great," Gardner said in a mild understatement. "The Yankees are a first-class organization from the top to the bottom. My coaches and all my teammates I've played with the last three years, we all help prepare each other for life in the big leagues."

And to have teammates like Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez?

"It's amazing," he said. "These guys have really accepted me and made me feel comfortable."

Between the lines

While Gardner is making himself at home in the House that Ruth Built and making a name for himself in the Big Apple, he realizes that he's just filling in for Damon and hopes the Yankees' regular left fielder fully recovers.

"I don't think he'll need any more time than the 15-day disabled list calls for," Gardner said. "I hope not. He's a big part of this team and we're going to need him back."

Until then, however, Gardner knows this is a golden opportunity to show his employers what he can do. He has moved steadily up the ladder in professional baseball because he has two important tools — a good bat and speed.

"It's all about getting an opportunity, and here I am," he said. "I just have to go out and play hard and make the best of it. It's pretty much the same game I've been playing for the past 20 years, just on a little bit bigger stage.

"But when you really think about it, nothing's changed. They might be throwing the ball a little harder and it might be a bigger stadium and more fans, but other than that it's the same game between the lines."

Reach Ken Burger at kburger@postandcourier.com or (843) 937-5598.