Jorge Posada’s return was both productive and injury-free.
Posada missed three games because of a bruised left ring finger, but he came back to catch yesterday’s 8-3 win over the White Sox. The catcher, who planned to wear a finger guard in the game, went 2-for-3 with a double and a walk.
“I was very happy with the way he played today and I think I’m most happy that he didn’t have a foul tip off that finger,” Joe Girardi said. “I love when he’s a huge part of our offense, but I’ll take him not getting hurt over that in a sense today.”
Posada wasn’t available to the media postgame. Before the game, he said the finger would “be fine.”
“It’s not as painful as people think,” he said.
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Though Derek Jeter has 2710 career hits, putting him just 11 shy of Lou Gehrig‘s franchise mark of 2,721, don’t expect Girardi to hold his shortstop out of any road games in order for the captain to set the mark in The Bronx.
“No, I won’t,” Girardi said. “I think the important thing is for us to win games. And that’s what Derek Jeter’s all about.”
After their seven-game road trip, the Yanks are back at home next Monday against Tampa Bay.
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One day after getting drilled by a comebacker and suffering a contusion, Sergio Mitre had “a nice mark” on his right forearm, according to Girardi. The manager said the team would see if Mitre is capable of throwing his bullpen session today.
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Heading into his at-bat in the seventh inning yesterday, Mark Teixeira was mired in a 4-for-23 slump. But he belted a three-run homer to right, giving him 32 homers and 101 RBIs.
Teixeira is now one of just two players to have gone 30-100 the last six seasons. The other? Just Albert Pujols, who has accomplished it the last nine years.
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Pitching matchups for the Orioles series: tonight, Andy Pettitte (11-6, 4.18 ERA) vs. RHP Jeremy Guthrie (9-12, 5.26); tomorrow, A.J. Burnett (10-8, 4.10) vs. RHP David Hernandez (4-6, 4.24); Wednesday, CC Sabathia (15-7, 3.56) vs. RHP Jason Berken (4-11, 6.33).