NEW YORK (AP) -Jorge Posada threw out two runners trying to steal second in an extended spring training game Tuesday, and Yankees manager Joe Girardi said the catcher could come off the disabled list Thursday.
Posada, sidelined since April 27 with a sore shoulder, caught seven innings and went 1-for-2 with a sacrifice fly and a walk in the game against Philadelphia minor leaguers at the Yankees’ facility in Tampa, Fla.
“His arm was great today,” Girardi said before the Yankees played the Toronto Blue Jays. “So probably this evening after the game, maybe I’ll talk to (general manager Brian Cashman) on my way home and might see him in there on Thursday.”
Posada is scheduled for a day off from fielding Wednesday but Girardi said he could serve as the designated hitter in another extended spring game if the club decides it wants him to catch a couple more games before rejoining the team.
“It feels good. I’m happy about it,” said Posada, who is 10-for-27 with six walks in seven extended spring games overall. “Hopefully everything stays the same and keeps improving from here. That’s all I want.”
When asked if he passed his final test with the two accurate throws, Posada said: “We’ll see.”
With Joba Chamberlain on a short pitch count for his first major league start, New York also purchased the contract of right-hander Dan Giese from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre before the game against Toronto.
Giese, who went 0-2 with a 4.82 ERA in eight games with the San Francisco Giants last year, had never been to Yankee Stadium before Tuesday. He trailed a tour group around to see Monument Park and some of the other sights.
“It gave me goose bumps, that’s for sure,” Giese said. “I mean I’m sure you’ve heard that a million times. But that’s what this stadium does to you.”
Right-hander Scott Patterson was optioned to Scranton to make room on the roster for Giese, who was 4-2 with a 1.98 ERA in 13 games, 10 starts, with the Yankees’ top farm club. Patterson allowed one run over 1 1-3 innings in his major league debut Sunday against Minnesota.
LaTroy Hawkins also was still available for New York after the reliever had a hearing to appeal his three-game suspension for allegedly throwing at Baltimore’s Luke Scott last month.
“I imagine we’ll have something on Thursday,” Girardi said about Hawkins’ case.
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AP freelance writer Mark Didtler in Tampa, Fla., contributed.
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