Help at the plate and on the mound is within sight for the Yanks.
Hideki Matsui might be joining the team as early as Tuesday in Toronto. Then on Saturday, either Carl Pavano, whose last sighting roughly corresponded with Amelia Earhart, or Phil Hughes could be pitching against the Orioles because with Joba Chamberlain and Dan Giese both on the disabled list “we’re going to need a fifth starter at Baltimore,” manager Joe Girardi said. Both Pavano and Hughes made minor league rehab appearances last night.
Matsui, placed on the DL June 27 with left knee inflammation, played a doubleheader Friday (1-for-5, HR BB) and then a night game Saturday (1-for-3, BB) with Single-A Tampa before undergoing a simulated game this morning in Florida with 15 at bats (11 against righties, 4 against lefties).
“It’s a possibility,” said Girardi of Matsui being activated for the Blue Jays. “So far the knee has been good so he’ll be evaluated (Monday) and we’ll make a decision.”
Girardi said Matsui’s rehab of his left knee has gone better than anticipated simply because “every time we got to just BP it seemed to blow up but it has not happened this time. He seems to be healthy and he’s running well so we’re encouraged by it.”
Upon his return Matsui likely would DH for the rest of the season “because if we run around the outfield he’s obviously got a chance to pull up (hurting) a lot easier,” Girardi said, noting the team will use caution with Matsui. “We’ve had some trouble trying to keep the swelling out of it but he’s done everything this time, everything that we need him to do and it hasn’t been a problem.”
Pavano is throwing for Double-A Trenton tonight, while Hughes was pitching for Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre where Melky Cabrera also was scheduled to play.
Joba Chamberlain will resume his throwing regimen tomorrow and accompany the team to Toronto. He threw Friday and Saturday from 65 feet as he rehabs from right shoulder tendinitis. He’ll throw tomorrow and Tuesday, rest Wednesday.
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Cody Ransom made his first Yankee hit memorable – a two-run homer in the seventh. Teammates got him to do a curtain call (and he got the ball back, trading in a bat). “It was a lot of fun. I didn’t realize what was going on, the dugout was so loud. They just told me, ‘Go,'” Ransom said.
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Derek Jeter went 4-for-4 – the 116th time he had three or more hits at home – and got plunked on the left forearm in the seventh. He said it was nothing serious. . .Alex Rodriguez’s homer was the 546th of his career, putting him two behind Mike Schmidt for 12th all-time.