Yankee rookie may take Sabathia’s spot

Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Thursday there’s “a really good possibility” that rookie left-hander Jordan Montgomery will be recalled from Triple-A to start against the Boston Red Sox on Sunday night.

Montgomery, 7- 6 with a 4.05 ERA in 21 starts, would start in place of lefthander CC Sabathia, who left Tuesday’s loss at Toronto after three innings because of soreness in his arthritic right knee.

“It’s a really good possibility it will be Monty on Sunday,” Girardi said.

A scan Wednesday showed no new damage, but Girardi said his inclination was Sabathia would not be able to start after leaving Tuesday’s game “in a substantial amount of pain.” The 17-year veteran is 9- 5 with a 4.05 ERA in 19 starts.

“I want to see CC tomor- row before we make a decision,” Girardi said. “Maybe the medicine is working. Let’s just see. I want to talk to him first, basically.”

Also Thursday, the Yankees placed outfielder Clint Frazier on the 10- day disabled list because of a strained left oblique, and activated outfielder Aaron Hicks off the DL. FORMER UMPIRE KAISER DIES » Former major league umpire Ken Kaiser, a colorful figure between the lines who briefly moonlighted as a professional wrestler to make ends meet while working in the minor leagues, has died. He was 72.

The World Umpires Association said he died in his hometown of Rochester, New York, on Tuesday. Kaiser had diabetes for years.

An American League umpire from 1977-99, Kaiser umpired two World Series, one All-Star Game and several playoff series.