NEW YORK (AP) -The Cincinnati Reds activated shortstop Jeff Keppinger from the disabled list Sunday and designated infielder Andy Phillips for assignment.
Keppinger was in the lineup as Cincinnati tried for a three-game sweep of the New York Yankees. He batted second and started at shortstop, then moved to third base in the third inning to replace injured Edwin Encarnacion.
Encarnacion left the game with lower back spasms. He might have tweaked his back while leaping to catch Robinson Cano’s second-inning line drive, saving a run and ending the inning.
When Keppinger moved over to third, Paul Janish took over at shortstop.
Reds manager Dusty Baker also benched slumping outfielder Adam Dunn for a day. Dunn is mired in a 6-for-54 slide.
Keppinger had been on the DL since May 14 with a broken left kneecap. He hit .448 in eight minor league rehab games, two at Class A Sarasota and six with Triple-A Louisville.
Keppinger began the day batting .324 for the Reds with three home runs and 21 RBIs.
Phillips was called up from the minors on May 28. He made two starts at third base for Cincinnati and was batting .143 (3-for-21) with four RBIs. He was hitless in his past 10 at-bats.
The Reds have 10 days to trade, release or send Phillips outright to the minors.
In other injury news, utility man Jerry Hairston Jr. (broken left thumb) is slated to begin a rehab assignment Monday at Louisville. Backup infielder Jolbert Cabrera (dislocated left index finger) traveled back to Cincinnati, where he will be examined by a hand specialist this week.
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