For the third time in four games, Jorge Posada sat out last night because of a sore neck.
Posada missed games Saturday and Sunday, but ended his two-game absence Monday night when he was the DH against the Royals. But Posada sat out last night’s game entirely.
“I don’t really think the neck is completely gone,” Joe Girardi said.
Girardi said he hoped Posada would be fully recovered today and that he’d be able to catch tonight’s series finale.
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After a 23-day hiatus thanks to a stiff right elbow, David Robertson returned last night, pitching two-thirds of an inning, walking one and striking out one.
“The elbow felt great,” he said.
Girardi said he’ll be “curious to see how he feels [today],” but noted Robertson is slated to pitch twice more in the regular season, beginning Friday at Tampa Bay.
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Before the game, the Yankees honored several players for various achievements, most notably Derek Jeter, who received bases from the night he broke Lou Gehrig‘s record for most hits as well as the “I Want To Thank The Good Lord For Making Me A Yankee” sign from the old Yankee Stadium. Jeter also got a signed baseball by Gehrig and Babe Ruth and the old Yankee Stadium seats he dived into for his memorable face-first 2004 catch. Among his award presenters were Hal Steinbrenner, Tino Martinez and Dave Winfield.
The Yankees also handed Mariano Rivera memorabilia, including a painting of his 500th save, the Citi Field rubber from that game and the old Yankee Stadium bullpen bench. Among his presenters were David Cone and Reggie Jackson.
Melky Cabrera also was honored for hitting for the cycle Aug. 2 against the White Sox.
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Is Girardi rooting for the Tigers-Twins derby to come down to Sunday’s regular-season finale? “Yes, you do,” he said. “That wouldn’t be the worst thing to happen.”. . . Joba Chamberlain is at 152 2/3 innings, so if his regular-season max is 160, he should be able to pitch seven innings tonight.
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Shelley Duncan was notified by the commissioner’s office before the game he would not be punished for his role in a Sept. 15 brawl with Toronto. He was originally fined and suspended for three games.
— Additional reporting by Dan Martin