Derek Jeter still is trying to get accustomed to the Yankees treating him cautiously, as they did by sitting him out Saturday and Sunday with a tight right quadriceps.
Jeter returned Wednesday night for the second game of a doubleheader against the Cubs and went 1-for-5, playing all nine innings at shortstop in a 2-0 win at the Stadium.
“I’ve always understood, but I didn’t like it,” Jeter said of the days off. “I still don’t like it, but I get it — the fact that it’s a long season.”
Jeter said he didn’t complain about an injury to manager Joe Girardi.
“I didn’t say anything,” Jeter said of the quadriceps injury he suffered Friday. “I was running to first and evidently someone saw me stretching. I don’t know who. Joe said, ‘Did you hurt yourself? I saw you stretching.’ I said, ‘No, I was just tight.’ No big deal.
“That was the end of the conversation. Saturday, he was not planning on playing me anyways, and then when I got here on Sunday, he said, ‘You have the day off.’ ”
Jeter, who singled and reached on an error, said he felt fine.
The same can’t be said for Brian Roberts, who remains out with a lower back injury.
Roberts said he likely hurt himself taking extra swings before Saturday’s game to break out of his slump. The oft-injured second baseman said he felt considerably better, but Girardi wasn’t ready to put him back in the lineup.
In a bizarre play in the fifth inning of the Yankees’ 3-0 win over the Cubs in Wednesday’s matinee, Jacoby Ellsbury appeared to hit a routine ground out to pitcher Jason Hammel, with Brett Gardner scoring from third base, but the speedster was soon sent back to third, with Ellsbury taking first after catcher’s interference was called on John Baker of the Cubs.
Under Rule 6.08(c), Girardi was given the choice of allowing the catcher’s interference call to stand or accepting the result of the play.
With Masahiro Tanaka looking dominant, Girardi, who said he never has seen the play as a manager, but had as a player — opted for the run, giving the Yankees their third run and second out of the inning.
“With zero outs, it would be a little different story,” he said. “With one out, I think you take the run.”
Mark Teixeira (right hamstring) worked out in Tampa and is scheduled to play in three innings of an extended spring training game Thursday.
“He’s right on track and [playing against the Rays] Sunday is definitely a possibility,” Girardi saidof the first baseman, who went through a full batting practice and ran the bases.
David Robertson (groin) said he is optimistic he will be able to come off the DL when he’s eligible Tuesday in Boston. He plans on throwing a bullpen in Tampa on Thursday and might pitch in an extended spring game on Saturday.
“I feel great,” Robertson said.
In the meantime, the bullpen continues to excel, with four more scoreless innings Wednesday and saves from Shawn Kelley and Adam Warren.
Carlos Beltran homered for the third straight game in the Yankees’ 3-0 win in Game 1. He did not homer in the nightcap. … The Yankees honored Nelson Mandela with a plaque in Monument Park Wednesday, as the team also belatedly celebrated Jackie Robinson Day.
Additional reporting by Howie Kussoy