Eduardo Nunez
HIT AND MISS: Derek Jeter (left) passes Willie Mays on the all-time hit list with an infield single in last night’s 6-4 loss to the Rays, which was aided by an error from substitute shortstop Eduardo Nunez (right). (
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Derek Jeter said his left ankle, which he jammed Wednesday, is healthy enough for him to have played shortstop last night — and he told Yankees manager Joe Girardi as much. But Girardi limited Jeter to a second straight game at designated hitter in a 6-4 loss to the Rays at Yankee Stadium, saying Jeter’s bone bruise may nag him for the rest of the season.
“I haven’t heard the doctor say that, but in my mind, that’s what I believe. It could take a while,’’ Girardi said before the game. “Could it get better as time goes on? Sure. But a lot of it probably depends on how he lands on it or if he lunges. It could take a while.’’
Jeter led off last night and went 2-for-4 with a run, passing Willie Mays for 10th place on the all-time hit list with a fifth-inning single, but also striking out to end the game. Afterward, Girardi noted progress.
“I thought he was better [last night] than [Thursday]. If he can improve more [today], maybe we can get him back at shortstop fairly soon.’’
Instead of Jeter at short last night, Girardi started Eduardo Nunez for the second straight game. Nunez made consecutive dazzling plays in the hole to end the third inning, but also made an ugly error — sweeping his glove hand at a routine grounder by Evan Longoria in the ninth. The ball ended up in left field, allowing an insurance run to score for the Rays.
“You’ve got to manage that frustration,” Girardi said. “He’s played pretty well these two days and you don’t want that one to snowball, so we’ll continue to talk to the kid.”
Girardi said he would check with Jeter daily. But although Jeter told the manager he was “fine” and the ankle was “not an issue,” Girardi went with what he saw rather than what he heard, protecting the 38-year-old from himself.
“I always want to play. But I’m going to do what they tell me to do. We’ll see [today],’’ said Jeter, whose Yankees remained in a tie for first place in the AL East with the Orioles, who lost, 3-2 in Oakland.
“I can look him in the eyes and I can usually tell,’’ Girardi said of Jeter, who rolled his ankle last week at Tampa Bay, and jammed it running out a grounder Wednesday at Boston. Jeter left that game in the top of the eighth inning. He returned Thursday, albeit as the DH despite telling Girardi he could play shortstop.
“[Girardi] knows. I told him I could play shortstop when he took me out of shortstop [Wednesday]. So nothing’s changed,’’ said Jeter, who passed Willie Mays for sole possession of 10th-place on the all-time hit list with a fifth-inning infield single. “I always want to play. I’ve always been that way. I want to be in the lineup regardless of whether its April, May, October, November, it doesn’t make a difference. I want to play.’’
General manager Brian Cashman said the Yankees have to protect Jeter from his own stubbornness.
“He’s banged-up, but it’s hard to get better this time of year. We’re going to have to help him manage it the best we can. And it’s someone who doesn’t want help,’’ said Cashman. “We’re playing not just to get October. We want to play through October, having everyone as healthy can be; that’s the goal. It’s a balancing act.’’
— Additional reporting by Dan Martin