WAITING . . . Robinson Cano (left) waits for the ball to arrive as Drew Stubbs steals second base during the Yankees’ 5-3 victory. (AP)
CINCINNATI — Brian Gordon’s feet have been touching the ground more while he prepares for his second Yankees start tonight against the Reds here.
Gordon was signed last Tuesday after getting his release from the Phillies’ Triple-A team and started against the Rangers on Thursday at Yankee Stadium.
“The toughest part of last week was that everything was so new,” said Gordon, who earned tonight’s assignment by allowing the muscular Rangers two runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings of a 3-2 Yankees win in 12 innings. “It was confusing and a ton of different emotions. Now I feel like I have my feet on the ground a little more.”
How long Gordon, a journeyman minor leaguer who is a converted outfielder, stays in the rotation depends on what happens to Bartolo Colon and Phil Hughes. They are on the disabled list.
Gordon could take over the long-man role in the bullpen or remain a starter.
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At first blush it looked as if Andruw Jones forgot how many outs there were in the third inning when he didn’t run hard to first on a double-play grounder. It turned out that he rolled his left ankle swinging.
“Your feet get caught in the dirt and there is no pivot,” said Jones, who explained he felt OK.
Jones stayed in the game and was replaced for defensive purposes by Gardner.
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Derek Jeter didn’t work out on the field at the Yankees’ Tampa minor league complex yesterday. He remained inside getting treatment on his strained right calf.
“He will start baseball stuff the next couple of days,” said manager Joe Girardi, who believes Jeter is on track to return June 29, the first day he is eligible to come off the DL.
Girardi said he will talk with general manager Brian Cashman about whether Jeter needs a minor league rehab game or two before being activated.
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Girardi said Hughes will “probably make at least two more [minor league] starts.”
Hughes made his first rehab outing Sunday for Staten Island.
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Eric Chavez took batting practice on the field yesterday in Tampa. It was the first time for that. Chavez, who is on the DL with a fractured foot, also took ground balls. Girardi said he is running on a treadmill.
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Rafael Soriano reported to Tampa yesterday after spending considerable time with a physical therapist in the New York area. Soriano is on the shelf with an inflamed right elbow.
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Joe Torre, MLB’s VP of baseball operations, was in the Yankees’ clubhouse prior to last night’s game. He initially planned the trip around the possibility of Jeter getting his 3,000th hit and decided to come because his wife’s family is from Cincinnati.