TORONTO — Kevin Youkilis believed he could have played yesterday, but Yankees manager Joe Girardi wanted to make sure the lower-back tightness that forced Youkilis out of Saturday’s game did not turn into a bigger problem.
“I think there is a pretty decent possibility he will be a player for us [tonight],” said Girardi, who started Jayson Nix at third yesterday and did not use Youkilis as a pinch-hitter against Blue Jays lefty reliever Brett Cecil. “I was going to stay away from him.’’
“I feel good. If they need me to play, I am in,’’ Youkilis said before the 8-4 loss.
Because Tampa Bay’s turf field has an all-dirt infield, Youkilis and others believe the Tropicana Field surface is more forgiving than the spongy stuff at Rogers Centre.
* It didn’t figure Brett Gardner would get his first stolen base of the season in the same game Travis Hafner got his. But that’s what happened in the third inning.
Gardner, who stole 49 bases two years ago and is one of the fastest players in baseball, swiped second with one out in the inning. He was 0-for-2 in steal attempts in the first 16 games.
The hulking Hafner, who had nine big league steals and none since 2010, reached on a walk and stole second when Josh Johnson ignored him at first.
Down four in the ninth inning with a runner on third and two outs, the lefty-hitting Hafner saw an exaggerated infield shift that had all four infielders on the right side of second base.
Hafner attempted a bunt, but didn’t get it far enough toward the third-base line and pitcher Darren Oliver fielded it for the final out.
According to Hafner, he had never attempted a bunt of any kind in the big leagues.
“We needed baserunners, so whatever he is comfortable doing, I am OK with it,” Girardi said. “Now if it was 6-4, I wouldn’t have been OK with it.’’
* Vernon Wells’ bat has been a big part of the Yankees’ solid start. Yesterday he helped with his glove and arm.
With Jose Bautista on first via a leadoff single in the third inning, Edwin Encarnacion hit a ball to deep left that Wells grabbed with a jump that carried him into the padded fence. Thinking Wells wasn’t going to catch it, Bautista was around second. Wells threw to Robinson Cano, whose throw to Lyle Overbay turned the sensational play into two outs.
Wells — who went 2-for-5 — was showered with verbal abuse from the same fans whom he played in front of for nine full seasons. After the catch, Wells tipped his cap to the crowd.
* With the Yankees halfway through a six-game trip to two turf fields, Girardi plans on giving some players a day off to keep their legs fresh.
Because the Rays are starting lefties Matt Moore and David Price tonight and tomorrow in St. Petersburg, Girardi was asked whether he would give Cano a rest.
“I will have to see how he is doing. I will check with him every day,’’ Girardi said of Cano, whose sizzling bat would be hard to delete against the pitching-rich Rays, though Cano is hitting .154 (4-for-26) against lefties.
Cano is batting .417 (20-for-48) in the last 11 games.
* During the last Yankees’ homestand, there was talk Mark Teixeira (strained wrist) might stay behind in Tampa after the Yankees complete the three-game series against the Rays.
The feeling was if Teixeira were ready to take swings, he would be able to get more work at the minor league complex.
Well, Teixeira has not progressed to the point of participating in tee or toss drills, so staying in Tampa is not an option.
“I think he is coming back [to New York] with us,’’ Girardi said.
Teixeira continues to take dry swings and strengthen the right wrist he injured March 5.
“We are taking it slow,’’ Teixeira said.
* The Yankees have homered in all eight road games this season. That ties the club record established in 2002.