BOSTON — Austin Romine almost delivered a perfect score on the impact test he took Thursday to gauge his recovery from a concussion suffered Tuesday in Baltimore.
“I got a 98,’’ Romine said late Friday afternoon in the Fenway Park’s visitors clubhouse before the Yankees’ 8-4 loss to the Red Sox.
On Friday, Romine took part in baseball activities for the first time since taking a foul tip off his mask on Tuesday against the Orioles.
Manager Joe Girardi, who has been left with neophyte J.R. Murphy as the only catcher behind Chris Stewart, said there is a chance Romine won’t be ready to play until Tuesday night in Toronto. The Yankees are off Monday.
“He took some swings and he feels better. He was supposed to swing on the field, but that didn’t happen due to the rain,’’ Girardi said after outdoor batting practice was cancelled. “I am not sure what we have exactly. We have to check with him every day. Is it possible he doesn’t play this weekend? Yes.’’
Stewart appeared in his career-high 100th game Friday night and, judging by his late-season slump, appears to be fatigued. He is in a 4-for-31 (.129) slide that has his average down to .213.
Murphy, a September call-up, is hard to play in key spots because his big league career consisted of five games and three at-bats going into Friday night.
Stewart caught Hiroki Kuroda on Friday and normally wouldn’t start Saturday’s day game, but until Romine is healthy enough to play, Stewart is a good bet to be in the lineup every game.
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Asked if Ivan Nova is still scheduled to start Sunday, Girardi said, “Yes, as far as I know.’’
Nova was lifted after six innings and 79 pitches Tuesday in Baltimore because a biceps issue affected his velocity.
Nova said he was encouraged that he didn’t experience a problem after throwing a bullpen session Thursday.
According to Girardi, lefty Boone Logan’s left elbow is improving.
“He said he felt better [Friday],’’ Girardi said of Logan, who hasn’t pitched since Sept. 6 due to inflammation on the outside of his elbow. “I’m hoping we turned the corner a little bit here.’’
Asked if Logan could be ready for the Blue Jays series, Girardi said: “I sure hope so. I would take him today, but I don’t think that is going to happen.’’
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David Phelps, who has been on the disabled list with a forearm injury, was in the clubhouse after the game. He may be activated Saturday or Sunday. He just finished a workout stint in Tampa, where he was pitching simulated games.
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Though the Yankees didn’t have a save situation Friday, Mariano Rivera might not have been used if they had one. After using the 43-year-old closer in three straight games and four of the previous five, Girardi strongly hinted he wouldn’t call for baseball’s all-time saves leader.
Because of the official scorer’s decision Thursday night in Baltimore, Rivera was credited with a win instead of a save, though he worked the ninth inning of the 6-5 victory and protected a one-run lead.
Because David Robertson flushed a three-run lead in the eighth the scorer invoked the rule that allows him to not give a pitcher who pitched “briefly and ineffectively’’ the victory.
“I’d like to see him get a save but when I woke up [Friday] it didn’t change my life,’’ Girardi said.