Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Yankees lose Pettitte to broken ankle for six weeks

Andy Pettitte’s broken ankle suffered Wednesday against Cleveland is a downer for the Yankees. (Associated Press)

Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia was placed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with a strained groin before New York’s rotation took another hit when fellow lefty Andy Pettitte broke his left ankle on a line drive.

Sabathia is expected to miss his next two starts after sustaining the injury Sunday against the Mets, while Pettitte will be gone for at least six weeks with an injury that the team said will not require surgery.

Pettitte was hit by a ball off the bat of Cleveland’s Casey Kotchman in the fifth inning Wednesday.

“Been a bad day for left-handers today,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said after the Yankees beat the Cleveland Indians 5-4.

General manager Brian Cashman said Sabathia felt a twinge in the muscle on the inside of his left leg in the fourth inning of Sunday’s win over the Mets.

Sabathia didn’t tell anyone about it until he still felt discomfort following a bullpen session Tuesday as he prepared for his next start.

“I wanted to go out and pitch Friday, but it’s early in the season and I want to be healthy,” Sabathia said.

Somersaults out

Reds manager Dusty Baker has made sure that closer Aroldis Chapman won’t be doing any more somersaults after finishing a game.

Chapman did a pair of forward rolls after striking out Martin Maldonado to complete a 4-3 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night.

“It’s been addressed already and it’s over,” Baker said before an afternoon game against the Brewers. “It won’t happen again – ever.”

Clearing the bases

Roger Clemens has no interest in settling Brian McNamee’s defamation lawsuit out of court, Clemens’ attorney said, potentially paving the way for yet another trial featuring the former Yankees star pitcher and his chief accuser. Lawyers for McNamee are pushing for a fast-paced schedule that results in a civil trial for slander … A woman charged with stalking and shaking down New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said he got her phony identification to use in getting an abortion after she became pregnant with his child. A Cashman spokesman said that the allegations amount to “more fiction” from a woman already facing stalking, perjury and other charges … Arizona placed pitcher Daniel Hudson on the 15-day disabled list with a right elbow injury that could lead to possible season-ending Tommy John surgery.