Yanks slugger Teixeira to miss five games due to calf injury

Baltimore, MD, United States (4E Sports) – New York Yankees slugger Mark Teixeira has suffered an injured left calf that could sideline him for the rest of the regular season, inflicting a serious blow to the team that is fighting to keep its playoff lead.

The Yankees earlier restored a one-game lead over Baltimore in the American League East after beating the Orioles, 13-3, Sunday.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi said his star first baseman will miss five games but could be sidelined for the rest of the season, depending on the result of an MRI.

“There is part of me that wonders that,” Girardi said of Teixeira’s setback resulting in a prolonged absence. “There is basically 3½ weeks left. If it does go back to square one, then I’d really wonder.”

Teixeira, for his part, said he could play again this year despite the bleak scenario. “That would be the worse-, worse-case scenario,” said Teixeira, who missed 10 games with a calf injury before starting Saturday against the Orioles.

He injured his left calf while trying to beat a game-ending double play against the Baltimore Orioles. Teixeira was called out, but replays clearly showed that his headfirst slide beat the relay throw.

“I think that is when he really felt it,” Girardi said. “He talked about really feeling it. He busted his rear end to get down there. It is unfortunate.”

In place of Teixeira, Girardi expects to shift Nick Swisher from right field to first base while Steve Pearce is expected to start occasionally against left-handed pitching.

Batting .255 with 23 homers, Teixeira is tied with Curtis Granderson for the Yankees’ team lead with 81 RBIs.

“It is huge,” Girardi said. “He is one of the guys that has been a middle of the order guy. He has been a big part of our lineup. He is an RBI guy.”

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