Travis Hafner had been able to shake off his recent history of injuries since joining the Yankees, but it was easy to become alarmed when he was forced to miss last night’s 4-3 win over the Mariners and get an MRI exam on his ailing right shoulder.
The Yankees’ concerns were allayed when the test showed only tendinitis, meaning Hafner could be back in the lineup as soon as tonight after getting a cortisone shot. Hafner pointed to getting hit by a pitch in the area on April 29 as the original cause of the injury and was pleased to learn it wasn’t more serious.
“Hopefully this is nothing serious,” Hafner said. “I’ll come in [today] and see how it feels.”
In 32 games, Hafner has six homers and 18 RBIs, as well as an OPS of
.893 — a number he hasn’t reached for a full season since 2006. Of course, he has played more than 100 games just once in the last six seasons, constantly done in by injuries.
* Vidal Nuno’s reward for winning his first major league start in Cleveland Monday was a demotion.
“As I told him, he did so well, he probably got himself sent down because he went so long,” manager Joe Girardi said of the lefty who tossed five scoreless innings against the Indians and was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre yesterday to make room for Curtis Granderson.
“If he went one inning and threw 30 pitches, he’d probably still be here.”
Nuno likely will be back in The Bronx again.
“He opened our eyes in spring training and he continues to impress,” Girardi said. “I don’t think we’d have any hesitation calling him back up.”
Nuno took the news in stride.
“I showed everybody I belong here,” said Nuno, who will be in the rotation for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and pitch Saturday. “It’s just timing.”
He said he talked to David Phelps, who was in a similar role a year ago.
“He told me to keep my head up and in no time I’ll get that phone call to come back up,” Nuno said.
* Joba Chamberlain threw a scoreless inning for SWB against Toledo last night as he rehabs from a strained oblique. He gave up two hits. … Infield prospect David Adams is eligible to be recalled from SWB today and could provide some depth.
* CC Sabathia is winless in his last three starts. … Robinson Cano’s double in the seventh gave him 345 for his career and he’s now in solepossession of eighth place in team history, passing Mickey Mantle. … Shawn Kelley has fanned seven of the last nine batters he’s faced and 25 in 15 1/3 innings this season.