Robinson Cano hopes left hip issue won't sideline him

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Robinson Cano said "hopefully it's nothing bad," cryptic-sounding enough for the Yankees, who can ill afford more injuries.

The second baseman said he felt something grab in his left hip as he reached down for Chris Gimenez's slow ground single that drove in the deciding run in Monday's 4-3 Rays victory.

"I bent over and I felt my hip a little bit," Cano said. "It's tight right now . . . It was just grabbing. I didn't hear anything pop, thank God."

Cano, who walked through the clubhouse after the game with ice strapped to the hip, said he was unsure whether he will be in the lineup Tuesday night. "I have to see the trainers right now and see what we're going to do," he said.

Cano thought he would have gotten to the ball if not for the hip problem and said that's why he didn't dive. "If it was farther away, yes, I . You have to keep the ball in the infield," he said. "I just couldn't bend all the way [over]."

Cano also was asked about his at-bat in the top half of the inning, which resulted in a smash to Elliot Johnson at third. It broke off his glove and he threw wide to first, but Cano, who didn't initially run, was tagged out short of the bag. Joe Girardi said he and Cano thought the drive was going to be caught in the air. "It was just right at him," Cano said.

Tex progressing

Mark Teixeira, battling a left calf strain, isn't yet ready to run the bases, but he took full batting practice and said Thursday in Baltimore is a target date for returning to the lineup.

"Everything's gone as planned so far," he said. "It's getting a little better each day."

Granderson doesn't start

Curtis Granderson, who left Saturday's game with tendinitis in his right hamstring, did not start Monday.

With Eduardo Nuñez on third and two outs in the ninth, Granderson pinch hit for Russell Martin and struck out swinging as Fernando Rodney earned his 41st save.

"I really believe he'll be in there [Tuesday night],'' Girardi said.

Extra bases

Andy Pettitte is scheduled to throw live batting practice Wednesday . . . Girardi said Ivan Nova will throw to hitters either Tuesday or Wednesday.