MLB

‘Scary’ symptoms could keep Yankees’ Cervelli from playoffs

TORONTO — Don’t count on Francisco Cervelli to be with the Yankees in the first round of the playoffs.

Manager Joe Girardi said last night Cervelli still is suffering from concussion symptoms and admitted the situation is “scary.”

Girardi said he has to prepare for life without Cervelli as his backup catcher for the playoffs.

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“I think you have to prepare that he won’t be there because it’s so unpredictable,” Girardi said before last night’s 5-4 loss to the Blue Jays.

That means rookie Austin Romine probably will be on the playoff roster. Cervelli, who was injured in Baltimore on Sept. 8, will see a neurologist on Monday or Tuesday and will have more tests, including an impact test.

The nature of the injury makes it a difficult situation for the Yankees, Girardi said.

“That’s what’s so scary because we’ve seen so many guys miss time with them and they’re still missing time,” Girardi said. “I heard [Twins first baseman Justin] Morneau talking about when he dove for a ball at first base, the concussion symptoms came back. You just don’t know what’s going to happen.”

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Robinson Cano, who played last night despite a bruised right foot, was not moving as well before the game as he usually does.

But after going 2-for-4, he is 12-for-34 (.353) on the road trip and is just the third Yankee to have consecutive seasons with at least 40 doubles, 25 home runs and 100 RBIs. Lou Gehrig and Don Mattingly were the first two.

Former Blue Jay Joe Carter was at the game and said he loves the way Cano hits, comparing him with his Toronto teammate and Hall of Famer, Robby Alomar.

“Only Cano has a lot more power,” Carter said.

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Mariano Rivera needs one save to tie Trevor Hoffman‘s all-time saves record of 601. The Yankees are 631-41 in games in which Rivera has had a save opportunity. He already has eight more saves this season (41) than he had last season.

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Look for A.J. Burnett to pitch Tuesday or Wednesday against Tampa Bay. Bartolo Colon will go today against Henderson Alvarez, Freddy Garcia will go tomorrow and Phil Hughes will start Monday at Yankee Stadium in a makeup game against the Twins.

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Jorge Posada started for the first time since Sept. 6 and went 0-for-3 as the designated hitter. . . . Derek Jeter‘s season-high 13-game hitting streak ended with an 0-for-4 game. . . . The Yankees are 25-25 in series openers this season and have lost six of the last nine.

Additional reporting
by George A. King III