CC's MRI ('I'm fine') among Yanks' injury scares

NEW YORK -- Fatigued from a five-hour, 20-minute showdown, Aaron Boone took a seat at the front of the Yankee Stadium interview room early Saturday morning, still absorbing the Yankees' 7-3, 14-inning loss to the Orioles.
Start with the injuries, someone suggested. And there were plenty to discuss.
Starter CC Sabathia was the first Yankees player to exit, lasting four innings before discomfort in the veteran's right hip prompted a visit to the MRI tube. That examination came back clean, said a relieved Sabathia, who hopes to make his next scheduled start.
"It was sore, and I never felt that spot before, ever, throwing a baseball," Sabathia said. "It was a little nerve-racking, but to have the MRI come back clean is a good thing. Now I know I'm fine, so I'll be fine."
He would soon be joined by Brandon Drury (migraine and blurred vision), Gary Sánchez (right calf cramp) and Tyler Wade (flu-like symptoms), as well as a ninth-inning scare in which closer Aroldis Chapman convinced the on-field staff that there were no physical issues of note.

Boone said that Sabathia's MRI exam revealed no damage, and the 37-year-old will be re-evaluated on Saturday. Asked if he believes Sabathia will need to go on the disabled list, Boone replied, "Not necessarily."
"I felt it at the last pitch of warming up in the third inning, and it gradually got a little tighter and tighter as it went on," Sabathia said. "It was clean. That's encouraging. Now that I know that I'm not hurt, it's just tight. Maybe [it was] the cold. Tomorrow I'll hopefully come in and they'll let me play catch."
In the ninth, Chapman was visited at the mound. Boone said that Sanchez believed Chapman's velocity was down, suggesting that he had not warmed up completely. Chapman acknowledged there may have been a dip, which he attributed to the chilly weather conditions.

"Thank God nothing is wrong. I feel physically fine," Chapman said through an interpreter. "They asked if I was OK, if there was anything wrong. I said, 'No, I'm completely fine.' It was not the best moment for me, but I felt fine. Maybe the next time I will make sure that I warm up better."
Given the events of their evening, the Yankees had to gasp when Sanchez reached for his right calf in the top of the 14th inning, then gingerly walked off the field with the help of head athletic trainer Steve Donohue.
"It just happened on one pitch; that's when I felt the cramp," Sanchez said through an interpreter. "This is the first time it happened to me. The doctor checked me and told me it was a cramp. I'm just going to wait and see how I feel tomorrow."
Boone said that he anticipates there will be changes to the roster before Saturday's 1:05 p.m. ET contest. Whether they are new DL assignments or moves to summon fresher players remains to be seen.
"I'm glad that CC's injuries, Sanchez's injuries aren't major," right fielder Aaron Judge said. "We've just got to keep fighting this, really. We're only a couple games into it, so we've just got to keep grinding."