BOSTON — Derek Jeter returned to the Yankees’ lineup last night against the Red Sox after missing two games in Baltimore with a bruised right knee.
“I told him [Monday night], ‘Unless I hear from you I am putting you in the lineup,’ ” said Joe Girardi, who didn’t hear from Jeter before arriving at Fenway.
Jeter played shortstop, batted second and went hitless in five at-bats in the Yankees’ 5-2 victory last night.
Jeter fouled a ball off the knee in the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader against the Orioles and was forced to sit out the second. He didn’t play Monday night but was walking a lot better than he did leaving Camden Yards on Sunday evening.
Jeter set the Yankees’ club record by playing in his 2,402 game Sunday in the first game. Since coming off the disabled list on July 4, Jeter is hitting .339 (65-for-192).
*
According to Girardi, catcher Russell Martin was nursing a toe so sore, he was only available in an emergency situation last night. He was also bothered by a thumb problem.
“A pitch got him [in the thumb] and a foul tip got him on the toe,” Girardi said. “He is banged up.”
*
Former Mets executive Jim Duquette and ex big league manager Kevin Kennedy talked on their MLB Network Radio show yesterday about how Martin tips pitches by setting up too early and was doing it Monday night against the Orioles.
It was something Martin didn’t agree with and works to avoid.
“I rarely set up early. It might happen occasionally depending on the pitcher because some guys want me to set up early with guys on base,” Martin said. “A.J. [Burnett] wants an early target but it’s something I look out for because it’s one of the things they teach you, don’t set up early.”
*
The Yankees lead MLB with 188 homers and have homered in 13 of the last 14 games and have 31 homers in those 14 games.
Francisco Cervelli hit the only homer last night.
*
Bernie Williams will be among the six inductees who will be announced when the Latino Baseball Hall of Fame unveils its 2012 inductee class at MLB headquarters tomorrow.
*
The Yankees will send pitcher David Phelps, infielders Corban Joseph and Ronnier Mustelier and outfielder Rob Segedin to the Arizona Fall League.