Curtis Granderson plays rehab game, flies to California to meet Yankees
Curtis Granderson hits a solo home run off Baltimore Orioles pitcher Brian Matusz in the ninth inning of a game at Yankee Stadium. (Aug. 31, 2012) Credit: AP
TRENTON, N.J. -- It seems the Yankees did, in fact, add some offensive thump shortly before Wednesday's nonwaiver trade deadline.
Curtis Granderson.
The outfielder completed his second rehab game with Double-A Trenton in the afternoon and Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said the plan is to have Granderson join the team Friday in San Diego after flying to California Thursday.
"We had a few things on the checklist and I think we've been able to check them all off," said Granderson, returning from a broken left pinkie. "If I put [my hand] down, no problem."
Granderson was to play leftfield but was moved to designated hitter shortly before the game because of "stomach issues," he said. "But other than that, everything felt fine."
He went 1-for-3 with two walks and a run, and had the hand tested on a dive in the third. After drawing a walk, Granderson was almost doubled off on a line out to third, but dove back to first in time.
"I like that there are plays like than that test you," he said, "because the only way it's going to happen is in game situations."
Granderson, batting second, blooped a single to left in his first at-bat. He flew out to deep left-centerfield in the sixth inning and struck out looking in the ninth as the Thunder lost, 5-3.
There was a tense moment in the seventh when Granderson scored from first on a double and collided with Harrisburg catcher Brian Jeroloman. Granderson slowed as he approached the plate, but lowered his shoulder and knocked over Jeroloman.
"I didn't plan on it happening . . . I wasn't trying to run him over," Granderson said, adding that he and Jeroloman know each other. The two hugged after Granderson helped him up.
The Yankees, too, hope Granderson will be a pick-me-up for its floundering offense. He hit 43 homers last season but has missed all but eight games this year because of lengthy DL stints with a broken forearm and the fractured finger.
"I think having a bunch of pieces back will shape the lineup differently," Granderson said of the infusion of Derek Jeter, Alfonso Soriano and himself. "We can all do damage."
