Freddy Garcia likely to miss a turn in rotation

VIERA, Fla. -- The swelling was down in Freddy Garcia's pitching hand Thursday , he said. He could not demonstrate that to reporters because the hand still was wrapped, a remnant of the one-hopper that bruised him Wednesday.

There is no telling when he will pitch again, but it is not likely to be in his regular rotation turn. "I don't expect miracles," Joe Girardi said after the Yankees' 8-5 exhibition win over the Nationals. "When you've got swelling in your hand, it's going to take time to get rid of it. I'm not going to scratch him, but I wouldn't be shocked if he didn't make his next start on his day. Maybe a couple days later or something."

Garcia spoke earlier in the day in the Yankees' Tampa clubhouse and felt well enough to exercise in the weight room. His hand still was sore from the shot hit by Toronto's Edwin Encarnacion. "Right away, it went like, 'boom,' " he said of the swelling.

He is mindful that there is little room for error or injury in a four-way contest for three rotation spots. So he was more than a touch grateful that nothing was broken. "When you're fighting for a spot and something happens like that," he said, "there's a lot to be concerned about."

Wang injures hamstringChien-Ming Wang, whose promising Yankees career went downhill after he suffered a severe foot injury in 2008 while running the bases, looked good for the Nationals until he injured his left hamstring making a play at first base in the third inning. "If there's running involved, it's tricky for him," Girardi said. "My heart goes out to him. He's been through so much." . . . Ramiro Peña left in the fourth inning after his spike caught in the ground on a steal attempt and he suffered an ankle injury. He was walking on it later but probably will miss a few days.