Yankees’ Paul Goldschmidt delivers ‘classic’ performance after avoiding IL stint

ST. LOUIS — In case there were any concerns with how Paul Goldschmidt’s sprained knee would affect his hitting, he answered them with each passing hit Sunday afternoon.

Making his first start since injuring his right knee last Tuesday, Goldschmidt put together a three-hit game with a pair of doubles to help send the Yankees to an 8-4 win over the Cardinals at Busch Stadium.

“Obviously for us to get the win, for me to get a couple hits, it was good,” Goldschmidt said. “I tried not to, but definitely it was a little bit in the back of my mind. But you just go play. I knew there was no extra added risk to playing. So just go play and try to play well.”

Goldschmidt had entered Friday’s game as a defensive replacement at first base, which manager Aaron Boone later said he was even a little reluctant to do — after the Yankees initially feared this was something that was going to land the 37-year-old on the injured list.

But by Sunday, he was cleared to return to the lineup and made his impact felt.

“I really wasn’t worried about the knee,” he said. “But there’s this weird subconscious when you had hurt something or your body maybe wants to test it out a little bit. I’d hit fine, I’d done defense, but to get out there and play nine, it was good. I wouldn’t have told Booney and them I was ready if I thought I was going to jeopardize our team or even myself.”