WASHINGTON — Nick Swisher needed a pair of wooden crutches to leave the Yankees’ clubhouse last night.
“It’s a deep charley horse [in the left quadriceps],’’ Swisher told The Post on the way to the team bus at Nationals Park. “We iced and are taking it day to day. We will come back [today] and see. They said it was better that it was on the outside of the leg than on the inside.’’
Judging by the need for the crutches, it’s not likely manager Joe Girardi will ask Swisher to patrol right field today when the Yankees go for a three-game sweep of the NL East leaders. And the designated hitter is not in play in the NL stadium.
“It’s not that painful, but uncomfortable,’’ said Swisher, who was injured sliding into home plate in the sixth inning of the 5-3 Yankees’ victory that required 14 innings to complete.
Swisher attempted to score from third on Russell Martin’s grounder to pitcher Jordan Zimmermann, who made a barehanded grab and fired an off-balance throw home. Catcher Jesus Flores had the plate blocked and Swisher slid into him. Umpire Tim Timmons called Swisher out but he appeared safe on TV replays.
“It’s a bruise in the quad, I guess he will be sore. He is day-to-day,’’ Girardi said of Swisher, who walked in the second, singled and scored in the fourth and doubled in the sixth.
Andruw Jones initially replaced Swisher in right and later Dewayne Wise moved from left to right. His throw home caught Tyler Moore trying to score the go-ahead run in the eighth inning.