BOSTON -Derek Jeter doesn't even want to miss one inning of the New York Yankees' playoff push.
The shortstop pulled up lame after lunging for first base on his double-play groundout to end the eighth inning of New York's 5-4 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night.
Manager Joe Girardi had to talk him into coming out of the game, but Jeter said he would be back in the lineup when they try to hold onto first place in the AL East again today.
"It's really not a thing," Jeter told reporters, refusing to confirm any details about the injury. "They just said, 'Put ice on it [and] come back tomorrow.' "
A day after Jacoby Ellsbury's game-ending single dropped New York into a tie with Baltimore atop the division, the Yankees got all their runs on homers to remain there. Curtis Granderson hit two home runs and Robinson Cano also homered for the Yankees.
The Orioles beat Tampa Bay 3-2 on Wednesday night, preserving the tie and dropping the Rays three games back in the division.
"It's playoff baseball," Girardi said. "You're playing in the playoffs right now. That's the way it is for us."
Jeter had two hits to raise his batting average to .325, which is third in the AL. With one out and runners on first and third in the eighth, he hit a grounder to second base and ran down the first-base line to try to beat the relay throw from the shortstop.
Stretching for the base - too late to beat the throw - Jeter began limping on his left leg as he continued down the first-base line into right field. Girardi and trainer Steve Donohue rushed out to help him and Jeter tried to wave them off, but the manager overruled him.
Girardi described the injury as a bone bruise, but Jeter called it a sprained ankle before becoming even more vague.
"Lower leg," he said. David Phelps (4-4) gave up one run on five hits and a walk in 5 2 /3 innings, striking out five. Rafael Soriano got four outs for his 37th save.
BREWERS 8, BRAVES 2
MILWAUKEE - Rickie Weeks blasted a three-run home run and Travis Ishikawa hit a bases-clearing double in Milwaukee's eight-run fifth inning, and the Brewers beat the Atlanta Braves 8-2.
The victory was the Brewers' ninth in a row at Miller Park and 18th in the past 23 games overall. Milwaukee (72-71) climbed above .500 for the first time since it was 4-3 on April 12.
The Brewers moved within three games of St. Louis for the second NL wild card.
