Granderson leaves with oblique strain

SARASOTA, Fla. -- Two Yankees returned from oblique injuries Tuesday, but Curtis Granderson was a late scratch after suffering the same malady, which has become a spring training scourge for the team.

During the afternoon, Granderson was sent to be evaluated by the team's orthopedic surgeon in Tampa, Allen Miller, and no further tests were scheduled -- generally taken as a positive sign. But there is a degree of concern until the Yankees, with their opener eight days away, get an exact diagnosis.

"I can't sit here and tell you he'll be ready in time [for Opening Day] because we just don't know what we're dealing with yet," general manager Brian Cashman said after a 6-2 loss here to the Orioles. "It's just too early. I know he's not really concerned from his end, but obliques can be tricky, so we'll just see how he is the next few days."

Joe Girardi said Granderson's injury occurred on his last swing of batting practice.

"He said he felt a little something in his right side, his oblique," Girardi said. "He didn't inform us then. He informed us after he ran and after he threw some balls and said that didn't bother him. So that's at least encouraging. But I think you really have to wait and see how he feels tomorrow to have a good handle on what it is and decide what we do next."

Greg Golson suffered an oblique injury March 7 and returned Tuesday, as did Joba Chamberlain, who hadn't pitched in a game since March 11. Sergio Mitre, who started Tuesday and allowed five runs in three innings, also battled an oblique injury at the start of last week, although his wasn't as severe as Chamberlain's or Golson's.

Andruw Jones said he talked to Granderson just before the centerfielder left the clubhouse.

"The way he was talking, it's not that serious," Jones said. "He said it will probably be two, three days maybe. Hopefully, he can come back and be ready for the season because he's a key part of this team."

Girardi, like Cashman, will wait before expressing optimism.

"I'm concerned, but at least he gave us a good sign by being able to go out there and say if it was the season, he would have played," Girardi said. "But you still have to wait."

If Granderson missed an extended period, the Yankees would have to scramble. Brett Gardner would be fine moving to centerfield, which some scouts believe he plays better than Granderson, but that would leave a hole in leftfield.

Jones batted .230 in 107 games for the White Sox in 2010, with 19 homers in 278 at-bats, but he was signed primarily to be a backup and to start in left against lefthanders. Jones said he's fine physically, but he hasn't impressed many this spring.

Golson would go from a long shot to make the roster as the backup outfielder to a near shoo-in if Granderson were to miss significant time.

"I can't look at someone else's downfall as my gain," Golson said. "Hopefully, he's healthy and everything goes well."