MLB

A-Rod’s hamstring injury is day-to-day

BOSTON — Alex Rodriguez is running like damp cement up hill and Alfonso Soriano’s right thumb is sprained.

So, with 13 games remaining, is Yankees manager Joe Girardi tempted to rest Rodriguez and Soriano Sunday night to get the maximum out of Monday’s day off before a three-game series in Toronto opens Tuesday?

“I’ll see where they are. If they say they’re able, I’m going to play them,” said Girardi, who didn’t play Soriano in Saturday’s 5-1 loss to the Red Sox and used Rodriguez as the designated hitter. “I think you have to because you can’t take for granted one game and say we aren’t going to put out our best team. You can’t do that at this time.’’

Before Rodriguez injured his left hamstring touring the bases in Baltimore, he wasn’t running well. Since then Rodriguez is barely moving. Friday night he couldn’t score from first on Robinson Cano’s two-out double that rolled to the wall. Saturday he wasn’t tested and didn’t run hard on three groundouts.

Since his hamstring barked, Rodriguez, who went 0-for-3 with a walk, is 1-for-12 and hasn’t played third base. The one hit was a homer in Baltimore.

He is hoping to get back to third Tuesday in Toronto.

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The Yankees are likely to send left-handed reliever Boone Logan to Dr. James Andrews possibly as soon as Sunday to have his left elbow examined.

Logan, who hasn’t pitched since Sept. 6, had a cortisone injection last Saturday and the MRI exam the Yankees took was sent to Andrews. Earlier this week, Girardi said everything was fine, but clearly the Yankees and Logan are concerned there is an issue.

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The Yankees are 6-12 against the Red Sox this year and have dropped five of the last six.

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Robinson Cano tied Dave Winfield for 16th place on the Yankees’ all-time RBI list with 818 when he drove in the Yankees’ only run Saturday with a groundout to the right side.

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It’s not often a catcher makes his first big league start in the middle of September with a club in a pennant race against a blood rival.

Nevertheless, with Chris Stewart struggling at the plate and behind it and showing signs of being fatigued after a season in which he appeared in 100 games, J.R. Murphy caught CC Sabathia Saturday.

“I caught him in spring training and plenty of bullpen [sessions] but this is the first time in a pennant race at Fenway Park,’’ Murphy said with a smile.

Promoted from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre when the rosters expanded Sept. 1, Murphy appeared in five games before Saturday.

“I just thought we had to give Stew a little bit of a break [Saturday] and I’m not ready to use [Austin] Romine yet,’’ Girardi said.

Romine, who hasn’t played since Tuesday when he suffered a concussion on a foul tip, said he was feeling much better and guessed he would be cleared to play sometime during the week against the Blue Jays in Toronto.

Murphy, who went 0-for-2 against Jon Lester, handled himself well.

“It was a lot of fun but I wish we were on the winning end,’’ Murphy said. “I felt we did all right. I thought I did an OK job, [but] there is still room for improvement.’’

As for Stewart, the 100 games he has appeared in easily outdistance his previous major league high of 67 with the 2011 Giants.

“Everyone is fatigued at this point,’’ Girardi said of Stewart, who figured to catch 60 games had Francisco Cervelli stayed healthy and had not been suspended. “He has had to play a lot … he got in at 3:30-4 o’clock in the morning, played that night after some hot games in Baltimore. There is probably not one catcher who plays a lot at this time who isn’t fatigued.’’

Stewart is in a 3-for-30 (.100) funk, was batting .212 overall and the 10 passed balls were tied for the second most in the majors.

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Right-hander David Phelps was activated from the 60-day disabled list and will work out of the bullpen.

Phelps, who made a dozen starts before suffering a strained right forearm in early July, has been throwing simulated games in Tampa.

“One inning or maybe more than that, but long relief or a start he wouldn’t be able to do,’’ Girardi said.

To make room on the 40-man roster, Derek Jeter was moved from the 15 to 60-day DL.