DETROIT — This is how Eduardo Nunez’s day ended at Comerica Park yesterday.
As his teammates filed out of the visiting clubhouse after their 8-3 loss to the Tigers, the Yankees shortstop struggled to put on his jacket. Finally, after several frustrating tries, catcher Chris Stewart had to come over and help Nunez slide his aching right arm into the sleeve of his coat.
It’s bad enough when older Yankees are injured, but it’s really bad when young Yankees get hurt. Nunez was hit in the right biceps by an 88-mph fastball from Tigers starter Doug Fister in the fourth inning and Nunez fell to the ground in terrible pain. He eventually had to be helped off the field. X-rays were negative and the injury is being labeled a bruise.
“I was scared, I thought it was broken, I felt pain all down my arm,’’ Nunez said. “The pain was so bad. I felt much better when I heard the X-rays were negative, and now we’ll see how it feels.’’
Nunez said he does not expect to be sidelined long, but considering the trouble he had putting on his jacket, don’t expect him to play today against the Tigers. Jayson Nix will be at short and if another infielder is needed because of injury, manager Joe Girardi said he would turn to catcher Francisco Cervelli, who said he hasn’t played the infield since 2002.
Injuries have decimated the Yankees.
“You can’t lose everybody,” Girardi said. “That’s the thing.’’
The Yankees are losing everybody. With Derek Jeter down and out in Tampa rehabbing his ankle, which he fractured last October, the Yankees have major shortstop woes with Nunez sidelined.
Because the injury was to Nunez’s right arm, he will have to see if he can throw, so he could be sidelined longer than the Yankees anticipate. Girardi believes Nunez will bounce back quickly, though.
“My thought is he will not play [today],’’ Girardi said. “My hope is it’s only a couple of days.’’
The shame of this latest injury is Nunez has been playing so well, off to a .364 start at the plate.
“I feel sad,’’ Nunez said. “I feel bad for my teammates, all the injuries coming to this team so fast. It’s the first time I’ve seen so many injuries in one year, it’s very bad. I’ve never been hit there before, it’s weird.’’