TAMPA — Nick Johnson’s lower back discomfort improved but not enough to allow him to return to the Yankees’ lineup. And don’t look for the left-handed DH until Monday at the earliest.
“I did some exercises and it loosened up,’’ Johnson said before sitting out a 12-7 loss to the Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Johnson, who has been on the disabled nine times since 2000, was scratched from Thursday’s game against the Phillies with a stiff back after hitting with spikes instead of sneakers on the artificial turf that covered the batter’s box in Clearwater, Fla.
Johnson caught a cleat in the turf and his back tightened.
“I think I will probably wait until Monday,” Joe Girardi said of using Johnson, who Girardi doesn’t want to play today or subject to the 2 hour, 15 minute bus trip to Ft. Myers, Fla., Sunday. “He will take BP and if he feels OK, play Monday.’’
Signed to a one-year deal worth $5.75 million, Johnson is being counted on to be the Yankees’ DH. His signing ended any chance the Yankees had of bringing back Johnny Damon.
Johnson was treated with heat and forbidden from partaking in any on-the-field workouts.
Jorge Posada was the DH against the Rays and went 0-for-2.