Jeter rejects rest-equals-hits theory

It's one theory Derek Jeter has no interest in exploring.

Jeter had a three-run homer and a two-run single Sunday after a day off. That has been a characteristic of Jeter this season, according to a YES statistic; he's hitting .371 after being rested.

"Let's not start this day-off/refreshed thing, 'cause I've been swinging the bat since I've come back from being hurt," said Jeter, hitting .346 (72-for-208) since returning from the disabled list July 4. "I'm pretty sure that during the course of that, I've gotten some hits and two hits and three hits, three days in a row, four days in a row, five days in a row. So let's not start this story."

Yankees manager Joe Girardi wasn't going there.

"I don't want to get in trouble with him," Girardi said. "But I think a lot of our guys, when they get a day off, they come back fresher."

Later, Jeter was asked what his hot bat can be attributed to these days. Irritated earlier, he now smiled.

"Days off," he said.

Sore but better

Mark Teixeira walked into Girardi's office Sunday morning and didn't wait for the question. "He came in today and said he's good to go," Girardi said. "I didn't even ask him. He came in and said I'm good to go before I had a chance to ask him."

Teixeira, who missed the first two games of the series with a right knee contusion after being hit by a pitch, returned to the lineup Sunday and went 1-for-5.

"It's still a little bit sore, a little bit tight," Teixeira said after the game. "But it's nothing that's going to keep me out of the lineup. Everyone's a little sore this time of year."

Let's chat

Girardi quickly came out of the dugout to get between Russell Martin and plate umpire Tom Hallion, who were having a spirited discussion after Jose Bautista's eighth-inning homer.

"I think Russell thought some of the pitches were strikes and maybe Tommy didn't like the way Russell was handling it," Girardi said. "I just went out there and said, 'Guys, you talked about it; can we just move on?' Tommy made his point and Russ made his point and that's fine. I give Tommy credit for not throwing Russ out and discussing it. They got through it."