AP

TORONTO -- Yankees closer Mariano Rivera will throw in the bullpen Saturday and could be ready to return to the mound Sunday, manager Joe Girardi said.

By GEORGE A. KING III

TORONTO -- If you didn't know Mariano Rivera's left groin was cranky you would have never guessed that by watching the Yankees closer play catch with Andy Pettitte this afternoon.

By GEORGE A. KING III

Joe Girardi has announced Sergio Mitre will start Sunday, and A.J. Burnett has been moved back to pitch one of Monday's two games against the Rays at Yankee Stadium with an extra day of rest.

CC Sabathia also will pitch Monday, but Girardi didn't say in what order his starters would work.

By GEORGE A. KING III

Sergio Mitre said his right forearm felt good after a throwing session off flat ground but Chad Gaudin will start Thursday night against the Blue Jays in Toronto.

"Sergio is not ready,'' Joe Girardi said of the right-hander who was hit on the arm Saturday. "He will get back in the rotation.''

AP

TAMPA, Fla. -- Pitcher Ian Kennedy will throw batting practice Wednesday for the first time since surgery May 12 to remove an aneurysm from beneath his right biceps.

By GEORGE A. KING III

Pitcher Brad Penny has cleared waivers and according to a Yankees source is expected to sign with a National League team.

The Associated Press reports the San Francisco Giants are working on a deal to add Penny.

The Yankees had interest in the right-hander, who was released last Wednesday by the Red Sox.

Penny has about $1.5 million left this season in salary and attainable bonuses, and would need to sign with the Giants today to be eligible for the postseason.

With AP

By GEORGE A. KING III

The Yankees have an interest in veteran right-hander Brad Penny, who was released by the Red Sox late Wednesday night.

By BRIAN COSTELLO

Brett Gardner took another step toward returning to the lineup when he swung a bat for the first time in a month.

By GEORGE A. KING III

BOSTON -- The Yankees lost Johnny Damon in the first inning tonight when he fouled a ball off his right leg in the first inning.

Damon was diagnosed with a bruise.

Batting with Derek Jeter on second via a leadoff ground-rule double to right, Damon fouled off a 0-1 pitch from Brad Penny and immediately folded into the Fenway Park dirt at home plate.

After gingerly getting up, Damon was called out on a 0-2 pitch by umpire Joe West on a pitch out of the strike zone.

When the Yankees took the field with a 2-0 lead thanks to Jorge Posada's two-out single to center, Eric Hinske was in left field.

By GEORGE A. KING III

BOSTON -- Reliever Damaso Marte, out since April with an injured left shoulder, is expected to rejoin the Yankees bullpen tonight for the series opener with the Red Sox.

It's possible the Yankees could go with 13 pitchers and send down a position player, who then would be recalled when rosters expand Sept. 1.

Marte, who signed a three-year, $12 million deal this offseason, has pitched in seven games with a 15.19 ERA.

AP

TAMPA, Fla. -- Pitcher Ian Kennedy likely will pitch next month in the instructional league, his first game action since surgery May 12 to remove an aneurysm from beneath his right biceps.

By GEORGE A. KING III

OAKLAND -- A.J. Burnett and Jorge Posada need to tighten up their communication skills with each other.

After a 7-3 victory Aug. 12 over the Blue Jays, Posada said he was crossed up a couple of times and Burnett uncorked three wild pitches, though none of the wild pitches came on a cross-up.

Monday night, when Burnett went the distance and gave up three runs and six hits against the A's, he stopped his delivery in the middle and was called for a balk with runners on second and third.

"He put curveball down and I saw fastball in,'' Burnett said. "I saw (Posada) move and I couldn't do anything about it. I missed the sign.''

AP

Yankees captain Derek Jeter has passed Hall of Famer Luis Aparicio for most hits by a shortstop.

Jeter hit an RBI double in the third inning of Sunday's game against the Seattle Mariners. His 2,674th hit as a shortstop came two innings after he had singled against Seattle rookie starter Doug Fister leading off the game.

He had seven hits in his first 14 at-bats of the four-game series with the Mariners.

Jeter also has 13 hits as a designated hitter in his career.

His 2,687 hits as of the third inning Sunday were second in Yankees history, 34 behind Lou Gehrig.

By GEORGE A. KING III

SEATTLE -- Hideki Matsui's left knee is retaining fluid less than a year after it was operated on.

Joe Girardi didn't plan to play Matsui today before the DH reported to Safeco Field, the hinge becomes an issue since Matsui, when healthy, is an important cog in the middle of the Yankees' lineup.

By GEORGE A. KING III

SEATTLE -- Alex Rodriguez was scratched from the Yankees' lineup tonight against the Mariners with back spasms.

The spasms started after Rodriguez braced himself while being hit in the elbow by a pitch in Wednesday afternoon's win over the Blue Jays. Rodriguez scored the winning run in the 11th inning.

Thought the elbow also is swollen, after sitting out last night, Rodriguez was in tonight's original starting lineup at third base. He was replaced by Jerry Hairston.

By GEORGE A. KING III

SEATTLE -- Joe Girardi announced that Joba Chamberlain will start Sunday against the Mariners instead of Wednesday against the Athletics in Oakland.

"After an 11-inning game on Wednesday, we thought about flipping [Chad] Gaudin and Joba.

"Joba will start Sunday," Girardi said.

By GEORGE A. KING III

SEATTLE -- Slade Heathcott and John Murphy have until Monday at midnight to decide what their baseball future will look like.

Heathcott, the Yankees' No. 1 pick and 29th player taken overall in the June draft out of Texas High School in Texarkana, has to decide between the Yankees and playing outfield for national champion LSU.

Murphy, a catcher taken in the second round out of the Pendleton School in Bradenton, Fla., has an offer to play for Miami.

AP

The Yankees have lifted Derek Jeter from their game against the Toronto Blue Jays after the All-Star shortstop was struck on his right foot by a pitch in the first inning.

Jeter staggered away from the plate after Ricky Romero's pitch but opted to stay in after a visit from manager Joe Girardi and a trainer. He looked fine going from first to third on Johnny Damon's double and scored easily on Jorge Posada's grounder.

But Ramiro Pena replaced him before Toronto batted in the third and made a terrific diving catch to take a hit away from Edwin Encarnacion in the fourth.

The Yankees said X-rays on Jeter's foot were negative.

AP

TAMPA, Fla. -- Pitcher Ian Kennedy has thrown off a mound for the first time since undergoing surgery May 12 to remove an aneurysm from beneath his right biceps.

Kennedy threw 25 pitches during a bullpen session Tuesday. The right-hander says everything was fine and he would work off a mound again Friday.

By GEORGE A. KING III

Utility man Ramiro Pena was promoted from Scranton Wilkes-Barre (Triple-A) when the Yankees sent out right-handed reliever Anthony Claggett.

Pena, an infielder, was sent to SWB on July 1 and played several games in the outfield.

Asked if he could help the Yankees in the outfield, Pena smiled and said, "I think so."

In 46 big-league games, the switch-hitter batted .267. Pena was 2-for-27 prior to going 2-for-4 for SWB on Thursday.

Claggett pitched an inning Thursday night, his second big league appearance.

The Yankees will need a roster spot tomorrow when pitcher Chad Gaudin is expected to be activated.

Acquired in a trade with the Padres on Thursday, the right-hander will begin in the bullpen.

Joe Girardi said he won't carry 13 pitchers, so it's between David Robertson and Mark Melancon who gets sent out.