MLB

Yankees’ A-Rod misses second game with sprained thumb

Alex Rodriguez wasn’t ready to be back in the Yankees starting lineup last night, but he didn’t rule out the possibility of returning to third base today.

“It’s better,” Rodriguez said of his sprained left thumb before the Yankees’ 6-4 loss in 10 innings to the Athletics last night at the Stadium. “The swelling has gone down quite a bit. The X-rays were good. We’re hoping in the next day or two I’m ready to go.”

Rodriguez was scratched shortly before Tuesday’s game. He suffered the injury fielding a Joe Mauer grounder in Minnesota on Sunday. It was his first game back since going on the disabled list on July 7 and undergoing right knee surgery on July 11.

BOX SCORE

Yesterday he did some light hitting drills and was at least able to wear a glove — something he wasn’t able to do Tuesday.

“[Trainer Gene Monahan] had me limited,” said Rodriguez, whose left thumb still was heavily taped. “The good news is, I was able to get my glove on my hand. It looked like a bee bit me a couple of nights ago.”

General manager Brian Cashman didn’t seem bothered by Rodriguez’s most recent injury or the possibility that it might linger for longer than expected.

“The trainers say day-to-day, so that’s what we’re going with,” Cashman said.

Hitting coach Kevin Long said he wasn’t overly worried about the missed time bothering Rodriguez’s swing.

“It’s just a matter of getting his timing back and I don’t think that will take long,” Long said.

It may take more time than usual. By the time Rodriguez does return to the lineup, teams soon will be summoning September call-ups, and the level of pitching won’t be nearly as high as it will be in the playoffs.

“He knows what he needs to do to get ready,” Long said.

Another player who has battled injuries throughout his career didn’t think Rodriguez would have a problem returning to form by the time the Yankees need him.

“I don’t think it should be an issue,” said Eric Chavez, who has gotten added playing time with Rodriguez out, although Eduardo Nunez got the start at third last night. “The only time it could be anything to worry about is if there’s a lot of pressure on him, but there’s not. We just need him to be himself by the playoffs and there’s plenty of time to do that.”

Chavez said he knows how difficult it can be when that’s not the situation.

“When I was in Oakland, they counted on me so much to produce and it was a lot of pressure,” he said. “It was really tough. I had a hard time with it.”

But he also understands that even in his best days, Chavez wasn’t Rodriguez.

“That’s why I love being here, because you’re not asked to do too much,” Chavez said. “But I know he has higher standards.”

They are standards Long believes Rodriguez will get back to quickly.

“We’re just excited he’s going to be back and hitting like we’re used to him hitting,” Long said. “Whether it’s another day or two is not a big deal, since we know he’s going to be good to go when we need him most.”