Mark Teixeira, Kevin Youkilis Go Hitless In Rehab Debut With Trenton Thunder
TRENTON, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) — A true sight for sore eyes.
But it wasn't exactly a great show.
Mark Teixeira and Kevin Youkilis were hitless Wednesday in their first minor-league rehab game, working their way back from injuries for a return to the New York Yankees.
General manager Brian Cashman said they'll rejoin the Yankees on Friday against the Boston Red Sox unless there's an unexpected setback. Both will play another game with the Double-A Trenton Thunder on Thursday night.
In seven innings, each went 0-for-2 with a walk in a 3-1 Trenton win against the Erie SeaWolves.
"We're ready," Teixiera said after the game. "I've been feeling good for weeks. I'm just feeling good about playing again."
Brian Cashman
Teixeira has been sidelined with a right wrist injury since March, and Youkilis has missed nearly 30 games with a back injury.
"It's good to know you're healthy and go out on the field and just get in some games," said Youkilis, who played 44 games for the Thunder in 2002 when it was a Red Sox affiliate.
PHOTOS: Mark Teixeira, Kevin Youkilis Debut With Trenton Thunder
Cashman, who attended the game hours before the Yankees were to host the Mets in an interleague game, said the team is looking forward to regaining two of its big bats and infield anchors.
"We've got to get healthy," Cashman said. "The important thing is that those guys are healthy."
Plenty of Yankees still aren't ready to play. Cashman revealed that outfielder Curtis Granderson had surgery Wednesday to have a pin inserted into his broken finger. He broke the knuckle on his left pinkie finger when hit by a pitch on Friday night against Tampa Bay. Granderson had played just over a week after returning from a broken arm in spring training.
Cashman said the surgery would not impact Granderson's recovery time, which is at least a month. He said the pin is designed to help heal the finger.
Cashman also revealed that injured pitcher Michael Pineda cut his finger on Tuesday night. He was removed from a spring training game after just three innings.
"He was cutting his fingernails before the game and he cut one too close," Cashman said. "He cracked a nail and it was bleeding. He was getting blood on the ball." .
Otherwise, Cashman said Pineda's rehab from shoulder surgery has been going well and should be put on a 30-day rehab schedule soon. He added shortstop Edgardo Nunez has been slow to recover from a rib-cage injury, and catcher Francisco Cervelli is still doing hand exercises. There is no firm timetable for either Derek Jeter (ankle) or Alex Rodriguez (hip) to return.
Against the SeaWolves, Youkilis flied out to shallow right in the first, fouled out to first base in the fourth and walked in the sixth, scoring on a home run by right fielder Tyler Austin.
He signed to a one-year contract in the offseason to fill in for Rodriguez as he recovers from a hip injury.
Teixeira led off the second with a pop-out to the shortstop, walked in the second and struck out swinging in the sixth.
Teixeira, the Yankees' first baseman, has yet to play a game for New York. He injured his wrist while practicing with Team USA before the World Baseball Classic. Last year, he hit .251 in 451 at bats for the Yankees, with 24 home runs and 84 RBIs.
Despite the injuries, New York trails Boston by one game for first in the AL East.
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