Yankees need Cody Bellinger to keep the big moments coming

Aaron Judge is out, and the Yankees don’t know when — or if — he’ll be back.So if they’re going to go anywhere in the playoffs, they’ll almost certainly have to do some work without him.Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees.

That means Cody Bellinger’s role will be even more important than it’s been for much of the season, and lately, he’s answered the call.It was Bellinger’s two-run shot in Game 1 on Tuesday that provided all the scoring in the 2-0 win over Tampa Bay in The Bronx.The blast was Bellinger’s 17th of the season and fifth in his past 12 games.With Judge out indefinitely with a strained right calf, Aaron Boone said the team was “not expecting” Judge to be available for the wild-card series that begins next week.As Bellinger said following the win in Tuesday’s opener, any chance the Yankees have without Judge will be due to a collective effort.But there’s little doubt that Bellinger — whose $36.5 million salary this year is second only to Judge’s $40 million — will be called upon more than most.Against right-hander Nick Martinez of Tampa Bay, Bellinger hit second — a spot that he and Ben Rice have mostly split in Judge’s absence.Rice doubled off Martinez to lead off the bottom of the fourth of a scoreless game, and Bellinger followed with his shot out to right.“[Rice] had a great at-bat in front of me [and] saw a lot of pitches,’’ Bellinger said.“It was a close game.

I’m not trying to do too much at all.I want to keep it really simple, put a good swing on the ball.”It’s the approach the Yankees are hoping to have without Judge, whose “moderate” strain has put their October plans in jeopardy.“I think for us, it’s one game at a time,’’ Bellinger said.

“We all believe in each other in this locker room.We’re not looking too far ahead.”But it’s hard not to wonder how the lineup — ...