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 plan is to have him catch Thursday against Toronto.
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.
“He had a great day,” Girardi said after New York’s 9-3 loss to the Blue Jays on Tuesday night. “He’ll be here tomorrow so we’ll talk tonight or tomorrow morning, (general manager Brian Cashman) and I. Our plan is for him to catch Thursday but I’m not sure what we’ll do tomorrow.”
The Yankees currently have 13 pitchers on their 25-man roster and could send one down to make room for Posada, who said his shoulder feels good.
“Hopefully everything stays the same and keeps improving from here. That’s all I want.” said Posada, who is 10-for-27 with six walks in seven extended spring games overall.
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 purchased the contract of right-hander Dan Giese from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre before the loss to the Blue Jays.
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.”
Giese got the call against Toronto after Chamberlain lasted just 2 1-3 innings, and initially couldn’t find his way out of the bullpen. He got out eventually and made his way to the mound.
He allowed one run and five hits over 3 2-3 innings, and was charged with the loss.
LaTroy Hawkins also pitched after he had a hearing earlier in the day to appeal his three-game suspension for allegedly throwing at Baltimore’s Luke Scott last month. Hawkins allowed one hit in 1 2-3 scoreless innings.
“I imagine we’ll have something on Thursday,” Girardi said about Hawkins’ case.
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.
First baseman Jason Giambi was hit on the top of his left foot by a pitch in the sixth inning against Toronto and replaced by Shelley Duncan in the eighth. Girardi said X-rays were negative and Giambi is day to day.
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AP freelance writer Mark Didtler in Tampa, Fla., contributed to this report.
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