Mark Teixeira, Kevin Youkilis return
Teixeira was in the lineup for the first time this season after tearing the ECU sheath in his right wrist during spring training.
“I’m happy with how things went,” said Teixeira, who originally hoped to return around May 1. “It was a little slower than I would have liked. As I’ve told you guys a few times, I would have been back the day after I got hurt if they would have let me try.”
Teixeira walked in the second inning and scored the Yankees’ first run in Friday’s 4-1 victory. The first baseman batted cleanup and finished the night 0-for-3.
“It is going to take a few days, knocking some rust off,” Teixeira said.
Youkilis (lumbar sprain) entered Friday having played in just 17 of the Yankees’ 53 games.
“I felt good,” said Youkilis, who went 1-for-4, including an RBI single in the fifth, as the team’s designated hitter. “I was just DHing, so it was an easy day for my body.”
David Adams, who played well in Youkilis’ absence, remained at third on Friday.
The Yankees sent down Ivan Nova and Vidal Nuno to Triple-A Scranton. Nova and Nuno will now compete at Triple-A to try to be ready when the Yankees need another starter. Nuno threw six innings of two-run ball against the Mets on Thursday. In his first 20 innings in the big leagues, he has a 2.25 ERA.
Nova began the season as the No. 5 starter but had just a 5.16 ERA in 22 2/3 innings and was replaced by David Phelps.
On Monday, the Yankees have Andy Pettitte coming off the DL to start against the Cleveland Indians. At that time, they likely will send down a position player. Barring an injury, Brennan Boesch would be a likely candidate.
Before the Yankees’ five-game losing streak, they had not missed Teixeira and Youkilis. Lyle Overbay, filling in for Teixeira, has hit .247 with eight homers and 29 RBIs and has come through at some very clutch moments.
Overbay is staying on the roster, though his role going forward is uncertain. Overbay only plays first base and Teixeira figures to play most days at that position. Overbay hits right-handers much more proficiently than lefties, but the Yankees have Travis Hafner to handle a left-handed hitting DH role.
“You have to see how Tex is on a daily basis, how he is doing physically,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said, when asked about Overbay’s place on the roster. “I don’t expect that you can play him 12 days in a row.”
Teixeira said his wrist feels good and doesn’t anticipate any aftereffects from the injury. He wasn’t sure how much he might rest.
“I don’t make the lineup out,” said Teixeira, sitting at a news conference before Girardi’s daily session with the media. “I think Joe is coming in, in 8-to-10 minutes; those are questions for him. I’m just here to play and play great baseball the way I always have.”
Teixeira, 33, has been a slow starter in his career. In the first month of season, he’s hit just .238 in his career.
In the past three games, the Yankees have not drawn one walk. Both Youkilis and Teixeira are known for patience at the plate.
“I don’t think there is any pressure on me,” Youkilis said. “I’m just one person.”
The Yankees are still without Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez, who are not expected to rejoin the team until after the All-Star break.