MLB

Tigers manager gets ‘no pleasure’ from playing Jeter-less Yankees

DETROIT — Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Derek Jeter was examined in North Carolina Tuesday, but didn’t shed much more light on what the next step is regarding Jeter’s fractured left ankle.

Jeter went to see ankle and foot specialist Dr. Robert Anderson in Charlotte, N.C., to explore the possibility of having surgery that would speed up the healing process. Jeter is almost certainly headed for the surgery.

Jeter suffered the injury scrambling for a ground ball in Game 1 of the ALCS that ended in a 6-4 loss to the Tigers in 12 innings.

The procedure Anderson might perform is similar to the one Dr. Brian Schofield did on Orioles outfielder Nick Markakis’ fractured thumb this season. A T-plate was inserted into the bone and reduced the recovery time by three weeks.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland says the ALCS misses Derek Jeter.

“It’s sad to me to be honest with you, I find no pleasure at all in the fact that Derek Jeter is not playing in this series,’’ Leyland said before the Tigers pushed the Yankees to the brink of elimination with a 2-1 victory in Game 3 of the ALCS. “I wanted him to play in this series. The whole nation wanted him to play in this series and it’s a sad thing. But it is what it is. At the right time, I’ll find my moment to talk to him.”

BOX SCORE

* Russell Martin, who went 0-for-3, jammed his thumb while hitting and was going to be hit for by Nick Swisher in the ninth.

“It’s a jammed thumb, I’ve had worse, I’m playing,’’ Martin said of tonight’s Game 4.

* With the Tigers using a severe shift against Mark Teixeira with Justin Verlander on the mound, Teixeira was asked if he considered bunting toward third.

“I had some fun with you guys in spring training,’’ said Teixeira, who mentioned he was going to bunt. “But I haven’t bunted since I was 11 years old.’’

Teixeira went 1-for-4 with a ninth-inning single.

* Bench coach Tony Pena met with Boston brass for six hours Monday regarding the Red Sox managerial opening.

“We had a great baseball conversation. It was very comfortable. Anytime you talk about baseball, you just feel comfortable,’’ Pena said.

Pena isn’t a stranger to Boston or the passion of Red Sox fans.

“I know the city well. I know the fans. I played there four years. I enjoyed every single moment,’’ Pena said.

Pena, who managed the Royals for three seasons, said he believes he would be better at the job now.

“There’s no question … You have more time to learn. Every day is something new in baseball,’’ Pena said. “Right now I’m better than I was. There’s no question about it.”

As for the Red Sox, Pena is familiar with the Yankees’ blood rival.

“I know that ballclub real well. Nobody can tell me anything about them because we have to go through it,’’ Pena said.