Vidal Nuno injures groin, could go on DL
Vidal Nuno stands on the mound in the first inning of Game 4 of the Subway Series against the Mets at Yankee Stadium. (May 30, 2013) Credit: Jim McIsaac
SEATTLE -- The Yankees' starting pitching depth might have taken a hit Friday night when lefthander Vidal Nuño was forced from his start for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre with a groin injury.
Joe Girardi said Nuño, 1-1 with a 2.12 ERA in three 2013 starts with the Yankees, could be headed to the disabled list. "Sometimes when you have a groin with a pitcher, you'll DL him just to make sure," Girardi said. "I'm not sure which one it is, but either one is kind of dangerous . . . A lot of times with a groin, it's hard not to DL a pitcher."
Nuño's performance won him plenty of supporters in the organization and had him in line as the likely call-up if the Yankees suddenly find themselves in need of a starter. Should the need arise, Ivan Nova also is in Triple-A as an option.
Wells ending slump?
Vernon Wells entered Saturday's game in a 4-for-53 slump but went 2-for-4 in the Yankees' 3-1 victory over the Mariners.
"The funny thing is I haven't felt bad," Wells said. "That's the only thing that's kept me from snapping. Have had some good at-bats, hit some balls hard, but obviously the results are what matter. Today I took some good swings, found some holes and hopefully I continue doing that for a good stretch."
Girardi said before the game that he thought his "timing's a little off." Afterward, he said, "Maybe this will get him going."
A-Rod still silent
Alex Rodriguez showed up at the club's minor-league complex in Tampa at 7:30 Saturday morning to work out and departed at about 11:30 a.m., again driving past a small group of reporters there to ask him about the Biogenesis scandal that has rocked the sport.
Claiborne solid
Preston Claiborne impressed the Yankees during spring training and has more than honored those glowing reviews in the regular season, posting a 0.49 ERA -- with 14 strikeouts and zero walks -- in 181/3 innings.
Girardi has put the 25-year-old righthander in more and more high-leverage, late-inning situations, and the rookie continues to produce.
"His consistency, his ability to throw strikes, throwing 3-2 changeups as a young kid, throwing 3-2 sliders," Girardi said, ticking off a list of how the rookie has most impressed him. "He really hasn't done anything wrong. He's been really good."
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