RUN, ROBBIE:Robinson Cano slides back to first as B.J. Upton’s throw gets by Rays first baseman Casey Kotchman yesterday, sending Cano to third. Moments later a wild throw by pitcher James Shields (above) sent Cano home with the only run in the Yankees’ 1-0 win. (Neil Miller)
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Robinson Cano will have his father, Jose, pitch to him tonight at the All-Star Home Run Derby in Phoenix.
Jose, who pitched briefly for the Astros in 1989, pitches to his son during the winter and was at Yankee Stadium throwing batting practice Friday.
“It’s good to see somebody who knows where you like the ball,” said Cano, a three-time All Star, but in his first Home Run Derby.
Cano isn’t concerned trying to hit homers will mess up his swing or tire him out.
“Nothing is going to change, you see me out there before games,” he said. “I take 60 or 70 extra swings. I don’t get tired. I am going out there to have fun.”
Curtis Granderson, a fellow All Star, predicted Cano will be the winner.
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Derek Jeter‘s bunt single in the third inning of the Yankees’ 1-0 win over the Rays yesterday raised his hit total to 3,004. He is three hits shy of Al Kaline, who is in 26th place on the all-time list.. . . Yesterday’s game time of two hours and 11 minutes tied for the Yankees’ shortest this season with the April 27 game against the White Sox at the Stadium.
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Joe Girardi announced his rotation for the first five games after the All-Star break. Bartolo Colon, Freddy Garcia, CC Sabathia and Phil Hughes will face the Blue Jays beginning Thursday in Toronto.
A.J. Burnett, who pitched Saturday, will open a four-game series against the Rays in St. Petersburg, Fla., a week from tonight. Burnett, who is more comfortable working on regular rest, will have eight days between starts.
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Nick Swisher missed his second straight game with a strained left quadriceps.
“I don’t see the point of rushing it,” said Swisher, who last played Thursday and will have six days off between before the series in Toronto. “[It’s] way better today.”
Swisher, who is hitting .325 (25-for-77) with five homers and 22 RBIs in his last 22 games, predicted he will be ready to play against the Blue Jays.
“Our thought process is he will be back when we get back from the All-Star break,” Girardi said.
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Don’t clear a space in the clubhouse for Rafael Soriano just yet. But it sounds as if the right-handed reliever is making progress with the inflamed right elbow that has had him on the disabled list since May 17.
Girardi was asked who, among Soriano, Damaso Marte and Eric Chavez — all on the DL long-term — would be able to contribute first.
“If I had to guess who would be first it would be Soriano,” Girardi said. “He is throwing a live BP [yesterday] so he is getting to the point where we could see him in a [rehab] game fairly quickly.”
Marte, who hasn’t pitched this year, is throwing bullpen sessions. Chavez, who landed on the DL with a fractured foot May 6, has been battling a back problem.
“I saw him [Saturday] and he said he is feeling better,” Girardi said. “He should be able to get back to work soon. I am not sure when.”
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Girardi gave Saturday’s lineup card to Jeter but did save a game-used ball.
“That’s about it,” Girardi said. “He got the official lineup card and my lineup cards. That’s something I do. It would be a great lineup card for anyone to have, but I think it’s his.”
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Hall of Fame president Jeff Idelson said yesterday it will be up to Jeter, but most likely within the next two weeks it will be determined what pieces from his 3,000th hit game will be given to Cooperstown.
Jeter already has 11 items in the Hall dating back to 1996, ranging from the bat he used to win the 2000 All-Star Game MVP to his 2006 World Baseball Classic Team USA jersey.