Martin has good day, then praises Wade

As Derek Jeter noted before going on the 15-day disabled list, the Yankees already were playing a man down while waiting for catcher Russell Martin to recover from a back injury that sidelined him for seven games in an eight-game stretch. But Martin started and had two hits and a RBI in a 3-2, 12-inning win over Texas Thursday at the Stadium.

"I felt much better than the last time I played,'' said Martin, who had just two hits and one RBI in his previous 31 at-bats. "The back now is pretty much a non-issue as long as I take care of it before the game. There's no stiffness, nothing.''

Martin reunited with former Dodgers teammate Cory Wade. In his second outing since joining the Yankees, Wade retired all six batters he faced in the 11th and 12th to get the win. He's pitched three perfect innings.

Wade missed all of 2010 while recovering from shoulder surgery, but Martin pronounced him fit. "He's back,'' he said. "He reminds me of 2008 when he had the great year [2-1, 2.27 ERA, 0.93 WHIP]. He's got command of his changeup, his fastball, and he's a guy that can throw any pitch on any count, and that's why he's tough to hit.''

Father's Day for Joe

The Yankees head for Chicago for a three-game series against the Cubs, and manager Joe Girardi, who grew up in Peoria and graduated from Northwestern near Chicago, is looking forward to a homecoming. On Sunday, he plans to get up early and make the 21/2-hour drive to Peoria for a Father's Day visit with his dad, Jerry, who has Alzheimer's disease. "I really look forward to seeing him,'' Girardi said. "He's not doing too well.''

Extra bases

Curtis Granderson scored the winning run in the 12th after failing to take advantage of a chance to drive in the winner in the ninth. With the bases loaded and one out, Granderson got ahead of Darren Oliver 3-and-1 but wound up striking out on a breaking ball out of the strike zone. Mark Teixeira then grounded out to send the game to extra innings . . . Girardi said Alex Rodriguez did not start Thursday after DHing the previous night because he hasn't had many days off and there's no DH in the next six games against NL teams . . . Girardi said new starting pitcher Brian Gordon will get a regular turn in the rotation in Cincinnati, especially given that he's a converted outfielder who can hit.