BALTIMORE — Joe Girardi said he doesn’t know when he will get Mark Teixeira or Kevin Youkilis back from the disabled list, but the Yankees manager reported Tuesday the first baseman and corner infielder are making progress.
“He had four more [at-bats],’’ Girardi said of Teixeira’s participation in a simulated game at the Yankees’ minor league complex in Tampa Tuesday in which he batted only from the left side. “Youk had three at-bats. Everyone seemed to do a little bit more today. Tex is doing well; Youk is doing well. [Eduardo Nunez] took some tee and toss and Alex [Rodriguez] took some BP. It’s all good.’’
The next step for Teixeira (right wrist) and Youkilis (lower back) is to play in an extended spring game, but Girardi didn’t have a date when that would happen.
Of the two, Teixeira appears to be closer to returning than Youkilis, but the June 1 goal of getting the switch-hitter back and in the middle of the lineup looks like a long shot at this point.
In other news concerning injuries, Girardi provided updates on Ivan Nova (inflamed right biceps) and Michael Pineda (shoulder surgery).
“Nova felt good and Pineda will probably start (in an extended spring game) Thursday or Friday,’’ Girardi said before the Yankees’ 3-2, 10-inning loss to the Orioles Tuesday night at Camden Yards.
According to Girardi, Joba Chamberlain (right oblique strain) is scheduled to throw in a game today.
Chamberlain has made one minor league rehab start and is likely to work in two more games before being evaluated to see if he is good enough to come off the DL.
* Andy Pettitte will test his upper back muscle problem by playing catch tomorrow.
“That’s the plan,’’ said Pettitte, who explained the strained left trapezius muscle injury feels good but was quick to add he hasn’t done anything to test it since leaving a game last Thursday.
* Last night was Ichiro Suzuki’s turn to sit in Girardi’s four outfielders for three spots situation the manager has wrestled with daily since Curtis Granderson came off the DL.
“I haven’t figured out what it’s exactly going to be every day,’’ said Girardi, who played Vernon Wells in left, Brett Gardner in center and Granderson in right for the second time this season. “They understand, it’s not their first rodeo. It’s always subject to change how we are going to do it.’’
* Chris Stewart isn’t expected to start behind the plate Wednesday night in the finale of a three-game series against the Orioles. He hopes to be ready Friday night against the Rays in St. Petersburg, but Girardi said he isn’t married to having Stewart back that night.
“He felt better during tee and toss and we will see him soon, sometime in Tampa,’’ Girardi said.
Since leaving last Thursday’s game against Seattle at Yankee Stadium with a left groin injury, Stewart has been relegated to emergency duty only.
Austin Romine started his fourth straight game and went 0-for-3. In the four starts he is 3-for-12 (.250)with two RBIs.
* David Robertson will donate $100 a strikeout for the rest of the season to aid the relief effort in Oklahoma. Robertson was heavily involved helping victims of a tornado in his native Alabama in 2011.
Robertson contributed $300 last night when he fanned the side in the eighth.
* The Yankees lost for the first time this season when scoring first. They had won 19 straight games and are the last MLB club to lose a game after scoring the initial run. The 19 straight wins is an all-time AL record.