MLB

McCann to sit out Friday’s game after injury concern

MINNEAPOLIS — The sight of Brian McCann flexing his left foot after a fifth-inning single Thursday night had to make the Yankees uncomfortable.

Though McCann didn’t exit what turned out to be a 7-4 Yankees victory, manager Joe Girardi said he won’t play the first-string catcher Friday against the Twins.

“Breaking out of the box, the first step, it grabbed,’’ said McCann, who singled behind Mark Teixeira and in front of Carlos Beltran’s three-run homer that erased a 2-0 deficit. “I’ve never had it before.’’

Girardi sensed it might be the result of all the extra swings McCann has been taking to get out of a three-month slump.

“The top of the foot is a little sore,” Girardi said. “We think it could be all the swinging he’s doing,’’ “I’ll probably give him [Friday] off and he’ll be back Saturday.’’

Girardi and assistant trainer Michael Schuk went to check on McCann who ran a few slow sprints and remained in the game.


Mark Teixeira was at first base one night after missing Wednesday’s game, due to having fluid drained from his left knee.

“I’m fine but I don’t think I have the green light to run the bases,’’ Teixeira quipped before the game. “Dr. [Chris] Ahmad took care of it because he didn’t want to deal with it all year.’’

Teixeira, who went 2-for-4 on Thursday, has had his knee drained several times since surgery in 2007 to correct a cartilage problem. Asked if he would require another draining procedure this season, Teixeira said, “Who knows? That’s up to the doctors.’’


Jacoby Ellsbury was back in the lineup after not playing Wednesday because, according to Girardi, he was “beat up and needs a day off.’’ He went 0-for-4.


Girardi didn’t know right-hander Alfredo Aceves was handed a 50-game suspension Thursday for a second positive test of what MLB called “a drug of abuse.”

“It’s not what you want for your players,’’ Girardi said of the reliever, who was at Triple-A and appeared in 10 games for the Yankees this season. “It’s something I hope he gets worked out, because he has the ability to help a team.’’


Yankees assistant general manager Billy Eppler interviewed for the vacant Padres GM job Thursday.

San Diego hopes to have the position filled after the July 31 trade deadline.


Addressing the media in the third-base dugout before Thursday’s game, Derek Jeter was asked about returning to Target Field for the July 15 All- Star Game.

“I can’t comment on that,” said Jeter, who was the leading vote-getter as of Monday among AL shortstops. “All-Star Games are always special.”