Sabathia breezes, but Posada, Rivera are 'nicked up'

Things managed to still go along smoothly for the Yankees last night. CC Sabathia was dominant in eight innings, Randy Winn provided some surprising pop with a three-run homer and Joba Chamberlain got his first save in a 4-1 win over the Orioles.

About that last bit: That's where it isn't quite so smooth for Joe Girardi and his club.

Mariano Rivera sat out with tightness in his lower back, an injury he suffered Friday. He has been unavailable since then and was only just able to play catch Monday.

Jorge Posada left last night's game in the fifth after injuring his right calf while trying to beat out a grounder to second in the fourth. Posada went to New York Presbyterian Hospital for an MRI, which revealed a mild strain. He is listed as day-to-day.

"We have to be cautious," Girardi said of his veteran core group. "Anytime guys get a little nicked up, it's a concern."

Rivera sat in the bullpen all last night, but it was Chamberlain, not Rivera, who started warming up as the Yankees batted in the last of the eighth.

Sabathia (4-1) was sharp and commanding, allowing only a solo homer to Matt Wieters in the second and inducing 13 ground-ball outs, including two double plays.

About the only trouble Sabathia faced was an odd confrontation with plate umpire Bill Hohn in the seventh, after a 3-and-0 pitch for a strike to Lou Montanez.

"I didn't say anything," Sabathia said. "He just came out from behind the plate and started yelling at me."

Chamberlain did his job in the ninth, but all the focus was on Rivera, who seemed not at all concerned with missing three straight games.

"It's May. We don't have to risk a thing," Rivera said. "If it was October, I'd be pitching. Definitely. But it won't hurt us early. We'll take care of it and I'll be ready for the rest of the season."

Rivera said he didn't feel any pops or pulls Friday, when he recorded a perfect ninth inning for the save against the White Sox.

"It's tightness," he said of the area on his left side. He had a similar injury on his right side last postseason, but that didn't stop him from pitching.

Posada's injury seems to be more serious. He sat out a couple of days last week after Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie hit him on the knee; Guthrie (0-4) didn't do any damage last night, but Posada told Girardi "it felt like someone hit me in the leg" as Posada tried to beat Ty Wigginton's throw to first.

The Yankees were about to call up an outfielder, likely Greg Golson, Tuesday to replace Curtis Granderson (strained groin) on the roster. Now Girardi had to wait for Posada's MRI results before making a decision on a call-up.

A complicating factor: Posada and Francisco Cervelli are the only catchers on the 40-man roster, so a move would have to be made if the Yankees wanted to bring veteran Chad Moeller up from Triple-A Scranton.

Said Girardi: "The contingency plans might have to change."