Yankees glad to have Chavez back

Eric Chavez hadn't fielded a grounder that mattered in close to three months, and suddenly he found himself playing third base in the middle of a potentially historic perfect game.

Pressure? Not really, says Chavez, who was activated Tuesday night off the 60-day disabled list. Chavez said it was more fun than pressure to be on the field for CC Sabathia's 14-strikeout performance. Sabathia carried a perfect game into the seventh inning of a 4-1 Yankees win over Seattle, before giving up a single to Brendan Ryan with one out in the seventh.

"You just go about your business," Chavez said. "You just give your best effort and make all the plays you can make."

In his first game back since breaking his foot May 5, Chavez felt pretty good. He has a big hit up the middle for the Yankees that drove in Nick Swisher in the two-run fifth inning. And he looked pretty solid for the first seven innings. His sole misstep in the game came with the bases loaded in the eighth inning. Chavez sort of bobbled a ball that could have been a double play. Instead, Chone Figgins reached base on a fielder's choice and Justin Smoak scored Seattle's only run of the game.

Overall, however, Chavez, 33, felt pretty decent out there for a guy who a couple of months ago was thinking about retiring.

The oft-injured six-time Gold Glove winner suffered multiple setbacks in his rehab in Tampa. Among the setbacks, Chavez suffered from kidney stones, a bad back and an abdominal strain.

"The frustration was pretty high," Chavez said. "It wasn't easy, but I'm glad I'm back."

The Yankees also are glad he's back because it gives them more options while Alex Rodriguez is out until mid-August rehabbing his surgically repaired right knee. Girardi said before Tuesday night's game, however, that Eduardo Nuñez will continue to see the majority of the playing time at third.

The rookie Nuñez also subbed for Derek Jeter when he was injured earlier in the year. Although his defense has been spotty -- he has made nine errors in 33 games at shortstop and four in 21 games at third -- Nuñez has an energy that Girardi likes. Twelve of Nuñez's 23 RBIs this season have tied the game or given the Yankees the lead. He is hitting .273 with 14 stolen bases in 18 attempts.

"We feel good when Nuny is out there because we believe he is going to make something happen," Girardi said. "None of us question his ability out there, but it's great to have Chavy back. We missed him."

To make room for Chavez, the Yankees optioned infielder Brandon Lair to Triple-A Scranton.