MLB

Sore ankle keeps Yankees’ Jeter in ‘designated’ role

With Derek Jeter’s left ankle bone bruise still an issue, manager Joe Girardi used his captain as the designated hitter Friday night instead of having him play shortstop for a third straight game.

“It’s something that we’re going to have to manage,” Girardi said before the Yankees’ 2-1, 10-inning victory over Oakland. “It’s not 100 percent.”

Jeter worked as the DH for four straight games before playing short in the second game of Wednesday’s doubleheader(he did not play in the first game). He played short again Thursday before moving back to DH last night. Eduardo Nunez (1-for-3) started at shortstop.

BOX SCORE

“You have to pick your times,” Girardi said, though he added of Jeter, “He said it feels better.”

Jeter went 1-for-4, giving him a 15-game hitting streak. He has hit .388 (26-for-67) during the spurt.

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In the third inning, Ichiro Suzuki hit a comebacker to Oakland righty Jarrod Parker — and ended up with a single when the ball got lost in Parker’s shirt.

“I was running and I looked over, I didn’t see the ball so I better get there,” Suzuki said. “Baseball is a funny game. It’s tough and it gives you rewards at times.”

Though the Yankees entered last night having won five straight games and seven of eight, Alex Rodriguez — who attended an event at Yankee Stadium for the Starkey Hearing Foundation before the game — said the team still needs to improve.

“I think that the last seven or eight games haven’t been too bad. I think overall we need to do things a little bit better,” he said. “But the key this time of the year is we’re based on results and we want to get victories and we want to play well. And the key is, when you don’t play your best, you still have to win.”

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The Yankees still haven’t activated Brett Gardner, who had right elbow surgery but is a candidate to work as a pinch runner and possibly a defensive replacement. The Yankees need to clear a 40-man roster spot for the outfielder.

“It’s going to happen. I just can’t tell you exactly what day,” Girardi said. “We’re just not quite ready to make the move yet.”

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On Thursday, Andy Pettitte said he hoped to throw 85-90 pitches in his next start (set for Monday), and Friday Girardi said the number is “pretty realistic.” Pettitte threw 75 pitches Wednesday in his first start in almost three months.

Girardi said he believes David Phelps, who threw 110 pitches in the second game of Wednesday’s doubleheader, may be available Monday. The righty would pitch out of the bullpen going forward.

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Giants defensive captain Justin Tuck , a frequent attendee of New York sporting events, was at Yankee Stadium and set to do the first-inning roll call with the fans. Tuck, wearing a No. 42 Yankees jersey, said beforehand he wasn’t nervous.

“I play in front of 85,000,” he said. “I think I can handle roll call.”