HE’D BRETT-ER GET WELL SOON
Gardner bruised on first, latest Yank to suffer injury
ANOTHER DAY, another Yankee goes down with an injury. Brett Gardner was forced to leave the game in the sixth inning after a collision with Rays first baseman Rickie Weeks resulted in a bruised jaw and strained neck for the Yankees left fielder. The Yankees are saying Gardner is day-to-day, but he will be re-evaluated on Thursday. “As of right now they don’t believe he has a concussion,” Joe Girardi said after the game. “Could he come in tomorrow with some concussion effects? Sure. But right now he doesn’t have one and we’ll re-evaluate tomorrow.”
Gardner was pinch-hitting for Pete Kozma and bounced a comebacker to Rays reliever Xavier Cedeno. Cedeno turned to second for a double play, but with the infield in he rushed his throw to first, tossing the ball to Weeks’ feet.
As the ball got by Weeks he turned into Gardner, who was running full speed, and leveled him to the ground while Weeks hit the dirt as well. The play did score the go-ahead run but Gardner lay on the ground for several minutes before he was helped up and walked to the dugout.
Weeks also left the game with neck and shoulder stiffness. The Yankees have already dealt with their fair share of injuries early this season, with Didi Gregorius and Gary Sanchez both on the disabled list until at least May and Greg Bird missing some games due to a foot injury. As of now they do not expect Gardner to land on the disabled list.
“Everything he’s been through so far has been pretty good,” Girardi added. “He feels like he got kind of lucky in that situation but has a pretty good mark underneath his chin so we’ll see how it is.”