TAMPA — Spring training and catcher Francisco Cervelli aren’t a healthy exacta.
Cervelli, who is competing with Jesus Montero to be the Yankees backup catcher, left yesterday’s 6-5 win over the Astros at George M. Steinbrenner Field with a bruised left foot.
Cervelli fouled a ball off the arch in the second inning, stayed in the game to run after walking, and caught the top of the third before being removed when Joe Girardi didn’t like his between-innings throw to second or the way Cervelli limped coming off the field.
A CT scan was negative but, according to Girardi, an MRI exam was inconclusive and required viewing by doctors last night.
“Every spring training something happens, but it’s OK,” Cervelli said. “I don’t think nothing is bad, a couple of days. It’s OK but sore.”
In 2008, Cervelli broke his right wrist in a collision at home plate. He suffered a concussion last year when he was hit in the head with a pitch. That led to him wearing an over-sized helmet. Yesterday he walked through the clubhouse with a big limp.
If Cervelli is out for an extended period, it likely will cost him the job behind Russell Martin because Montero has improved defensively and there is little doubt he will hit. Austin Romine is the other option.
Jorge Posada has his catching gloves in camp, but he will be asked to don the gear only in an emergency.
Martin, who will catch for the first time tomorrow night against the Red Sox, added a knee brace yesterday.
“It’s not completely 100 percent, so it’s a safety net for me,” said Martin, who had arthroscopic surgery in December after signing with the Yankees. “It’s super light, it weighs about 12 ounces. Today is the first time I wore it hitting and stuff. It works well.”
Martin, appearing as the DH, drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the ninth to drive in the winning run.