The Sports Xchange
MLB Team Report – New York Yankees – INSIDE PITCH
Joe Girardi wouldn’t call it a shakeup, but it only took the Yankees’ manager three games to start tinkering with an injury-ravaged lineup.
Girardi moved slumping star Robinson Cano into the No. 2 spot in the batting order for Thursday’s 4-2 win over Boston. He remained there Friday when the Yankees fell 8-3 to Detroit.
“It is just to try and break up some of the left-handers that we have,” Girardi said. “We have decided to take a look at this. I thought about doing it (Wednesday). I thought I’ll go with it to see how it looks. It is just to try to not make it so easy on the other team.”
When asked if the moves were designed to “shake things up” to spark his team following two listless losses to open the season, Girardi added: “I think it is way too early to do that. It is two games. We scored four runs (Wednesday). We had some opportunities the first day. I just don’t like having three lefties in a row. … But I don’t think anyone wants (a losing streak) to go too far.”
Still, Girardi has admitted the need “to get creative” with a lineup missing injured stars Mark Teixeira (wrist), Derek Jeter (ankle), Curtis Granderson (forearm) and Alex Rodriguez (hip). Nick Swisher, Russell Martin, Raul Ibanez, Eric Chavez and Andruw Jones also are gone from a lineup that blasted a league-leading 245 home runs last season.
And the injury list grew on Friday when shortstop Eduardo Nunez, filling in for Jeter, was hit in the right biceps by a fastball. X-rays were negative and the shortstop is being considered day-to-day.
New designated hitter Travis Hafner and left fielder Vernon Wells each blasted his first home run as a Yankee in Wednesday’s 7-4 loss to the Red Sox. And Lyle Overbay, who is filling in for Teixeira at first base, added a key two-run single in Thursday’s victory.
“(Hafner) is a guy who has been there before,” Girardi said. “He is a guy who is used to hitting in the middle of the order. His swings have been good. I thought his swings were good (Wednesday) and his swings were good at the end of spring training.
“And (Wells) is swinging the bat well. In left field, he looks comfortable. He looks like he’s relishing his time here.”
THE GAME: Bullpen blows it
The Yankees grabbed a 3-2 lead in the top of the fifth Friday on a Kevin Youkilis two-run homer but starter Ivan Nova and the bullpen failed to hold it, as New York fell to Detroit 8-3 at Comerica Park.
The Yankees suffered a potentially damaging loss in the fourth when Nunez, who has been filling in for Jeter, was hit in the right arm by a Doug Fister pitch and suffered a bruised biceps.
Nunez, his face contorted in agony, went down on the ground and stayed there for more than a minute while being examined. He left the game hunched over, his right arm hanging down, and was replaced on the bases by Jayson Nix, who stayed in the game to play short.
“It’s a day-to-day thing,” Girardi said. “My thought is he won’t play Saturday. He was hit in the (right) biceps.
“I don’t think we’ve lost Nunez for a while. It’s just a bruise.”
Detroit scored in each of the first two innings but the Yankees came back to lead 3-2. Prince Fielder then won a lefty-against-lefty matchup against Boone Logan when he clubbed a three-run homer on the second pitch he saw in the bottom of the fifth and added a two-run shot his next time up in the seventh off Shawn Kelley.
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MLB Team Report – New York Yankees – NOTES, QUOTES
RECORD: 1-3
STREAK: Lost one.
NEXT: Yankees (RHP David Phelps 0-0, 6.75) at Tigers (RHP Max Scherzer 0-0, 0.00)
–RHP David Phelps is making his first start but second appearance of the season. Phelps allowed an earned run on a hit in 1 1/3 innings of relief in New York’s season opener. He has never started against the Tigers but has appeared in four games against Detroit with an 0-1 record and a 1.80 ERA in five innings.
–SS Eduardo Nunez is “day-to-day” according to New York manager Joe Girardi but “my thought is he won’t play Saturday.” Nunez was hit in the right biceps by a RHP Doug Fister pitch in the fourth inning Friday. He crumpled to the ground in agony and was led from the field hunched over, his right arm hanging loosely. It was determined to be a bruise.
–SS Jayson Nix replaced SS Eduardo Nunez as a pinch runner in the fourth inning Friday after the placeholder for SS Derek Jeter was hit in the right biceps by a pitch and had to be helped from the field. Nix remained in the game to play short and was expected to start Saturday, perhaps Sunday as well while Nunez recuperates.
–C Francisco Cervelli was ‘promoted’ to primary backup infielder Friday by manager Joe Girardi in the wake of an injury to current starter SS Eduard Nunez, hit in the right biceps by a pitch in the fourth inning. IF Jayson Nix replaced Nunez and Cervelli was bumped up to be the backup in case the Yankees need somebody in the infield Saturday. “Cervy is our extra infielder,” Girardi said. “If I had to use somebody, that’s what I would do.”
–SS Derek Jeter apparently is not close to returning to action as the Yankees decline to set a target for a possible activation off the disabled list. Jeter was eligible to come off Saturday but is still rehabbing at New York’s spring training complex. He has not played any games to this point. Manager Joe Girardi said Friday there is no timetable set for his return.
–RHP Hiroki Kuroda threw a bullpen session Friday and if he reports Saturday that his arm is fine, he is probable to make his scheduled start Monday in Cleveland. Kuroda was struck on the right hand by an OF Shane Victorino line drive in the second inning of New York’s 7-4 loss Wednesday to Boston. “I anticipate he will. Let’s see how he comes out of it tomorrow,” pitching coach Larry Rothschild said after watching Kuroda throw.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “I feel very sad about all my teammates, you know? The injuries (are) coming to this team so fast.” — SS Eduardo Nunez, who was hit in the right biceps by a RHP Doug Fister pitch in the fourth inning Friday. He is expected to be day-to-day.
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MLB Team Report – New York Yankees – ROSTER REPORT
MEDICAL WATCH:
–SS Eduardo Nunez (bruised right biceps) was hit in the right biceps by a RHP Doug Fister pitch on April 5. He was “day-to-day,” according to manager Joe Girardi. X-rays were negative. It was determined to be a bruise.
–RHP Hiroki Kuroda (bruised right middle finger) left his April 3 start, but he felt no ill effects April 4. He threw a bullpen session April 5 and if his arm was fine the next day, he would be probable to make his scheduled start April 8 in Cleveland.
–RHP Phil Hughes (bulging disk in upper back) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 22. He will make his final minor league start with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on April 6, lining him up for a return to the Yankees on April 11.
–SS Derek Jeter (left ankle surgery in October 2012) was fine early in spring training, but he complained of soreness in mid-March and was shut down. He went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 22. He continues to do light baseball activity at the Yankees’ training complex in Tampa, but there is no target date for his return. The Yankees are hoping to have him back before the end of April.
–1B Mark Teixeira (partially torn tendon sheath in right wrist) was hurt March 5, and he went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 22. He won’t need surgery and is targeting a return during the first week of May.
–OF Curtis Granderson (fractured right forearm) was hurt Feb. 24 when hit by a pitch. He went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 22, and he is out until mid-May.
–3B Alex Rodriguez (left hip surgery in January) went on the 60-day disabled list Feb. 13. The Yankees expect to have him back after the All-Star break, but there’s a chance he could miss the entire season.
–RHP Michael Pineda (right shoulder surgery in May 2012) went on the 60-day disabled list March 22. He continues to rehab after having a torn labrum repaired. He is unlikely to pitch before May or June.
–LHP Cesar Cabral (stress fracture in left elbow) went on the 60-day disabled list March 26. He was throwing off a mound in late March.
ROTATION:
LHP CC Sabathia
RHP Hiroki Kuroda
LHP Andy Pettitte
RHP Phil Hughes
RHP Ivan Nova
BULLPEN:
RHP Mariano Rivera (closer)
RHP David Robertson
RHP Joba Chamberlain
LHP Boone Logan
RHP David Phelps
RHP Cody Eppley
RHP Adam Warren
CATCHERS:
Francisco Cervelli
Chris Stewart
INFIELDERS:
1B Lyle Overbay
2B Robinson Cano
SS Eduardo Nunez
3B Kevin Youkilis
DH Travis Hafner
INF Jayson Nix
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Vernon Wells
CF Brett Gardner
RF Ichiro Suzuki
OF Brennan Boesch
OF Ben Francisco
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