MLB

Yankees LF Gardner to miss more time with elbow strain

There is no telling when Brett Gardner will return to the Yankees.

An MRI exam revealed another muscle strain in Gardner’s right (non-throwing) elbow Thursday and the left fielder will not be coming off the disabled list.

“He won’t pick up a bat for 10 days,’’ manager Joe Girardi said of Gardner, who played in minor league rehab games Tuesday and Wednesday and felt discomfort after the second one. “The muscle strained, healed and re-strained. We are going to be without Gardy. It’s very unfortunate. It’s not the bone bruise, the bone bruise is pretty good. We will just go without him.’’

YANKEES BOX SCORE

Girardi admitted not having Gardner’s speed on the bases and Gold Glove-like defense is a concern. However, he doesn’t believe Gardner is looking at an extended stay on the DL.

“I don’t necessarily think this is a three-month thing but unfortunately we are going to be without him for another 15 to 25 days,’’ Girardi said.

Gardner hasn’t played since April 18 and went on the DL the next day.

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Girardi said it might be time to reduce the number of positions Eduardo Nunez plays.

“I think we have to evaluate how much we move him around,’’ Girardi said of the young infielder, who started at third base for the fifth time last night and made two costly errors in the first two innings. “Maybe it’s difficult for him, all the different throws. The kid is used to playing shortstop. We are just going to have to continue working with him. Obviously, you see how valuable his bat is and his speed is. It’s been difficult for him, the adjustments.’’

Nunez, who has made a club-high four errors, went 2-for-2 with a walk, scored a run and stole two bases.

In addition to the five games at third, Nunez has played one at second, five at short and three in left field.

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Curtis Granderson’s home run off David Price leading off the second inning was his 19th off a left-hander since the beginning of 2011. That’s the most by any lefty-swinging hitter against lefty pitching in that time frame among MLB hitters.

Granderson, who has 11 homers, has hit nine in his last 13 games.

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Andruw Jones started in left field, his first start since May 4. The following four games were started by a right-hander and Jones had one pinch-hit appearance. Jones, who came in 5-for-24 (.208) with two homers against Price, laced an RBI double to left in the fifth.

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Girardi started Chris Stewart with ace CC Sabathia for the fifth straight time. Even though Sabathia was 4-0 throwing to Stewart, Girardi emphatically denied the journeyman has become Sabathia’s personal catcher.

“If the playoffs started today I would catch Russell [Martin],’’ Girardi said before the battery improved to 5-0 this season. “Sometimes it makes sense for the backup catcher to know when he is going to play and the starting catcher to know when he isn’t going to play.

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According to Girardi, MLB has to clear Eric Chavez before he is eligible to come off the seven-day DL where is after suffering a concussion May 11.

“He has not been cleared yet,’’ Girardi said.

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Stephanie and Joe Decker, with children Dominic (9) and Reese (6), were guests of the Yankees on the field before the game.

This past winter, during a tornado in Henryville, Ind., Stephanie covered her children and saved their lives. However, she lost a leg.

The family took pictures with Derek Jeter, Granderson, Girardi, Alex Rodriguez, David Robertson and Nick Swisher. Dominic and Reese helped first base coach Mick Kelleher bring the lineup cards to the plate.

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The Yankees are hosting a birthday celebration for Yogi Berra tomorrow before the 4:05 p.m. game against the Mariners. The Hall of Famer will turn 87 tomorrow.