Swisher misses sign, then hits home run

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Nick Swisher needed clarification on a sign he never received.

Before hitting his game-changing three-run homer in the fourth inning Wednesday, the outfielder squared to bunt on the first two pitches he saw from Gio Gonzalez, both balls.

When A's pitching coach Ron Romanick went to the mound for a visit, Swisher double-checked the bunt sign, which was never on, with Yankees' third-base coach Rob Thomson.

"He said 'I want you to let loose,' " Swisher said. "I said 'All right.' "

Swisher sent Gonzalez's next pitch over the wall in left for a three-run homer that gave the Yankees a 4-2 lead.

"I take full responsibility for that but it ended up working out," Swisher said.

Said Joe Girardi: "We wanted him to swing the bat so it worked out really well for us."

After a pause, Girardi said: "It got him into a good count."

Swisher has two homers in the past four games. "I just feel that hard work I put in is taking over now," Swisher said. "I feel confident again and that's a big factor for me."

MRI for Martin

Russell Martin returned to the lineup Tuesday after being a late scratch Monday because of a sore left toe and didn't look particularly comfortable in his 0-for-4 night. As a precaution, the Yankees had the catcher undergo an MRI, which didn't appear to show anything.

Martin went 0-for-3 Wednesday and is in an 0-for-16 slump.

No pressure

Though his day-later comments after Ivan Nova's most recent start, last Saturday in Seattle, made it sound as if the 23-year-old was on notice, Girardi said Friday's start in Anaheim isn't make-or-break to stay in the rotation.

Girardi said: "I wouldn't say he's pitching for his slot."