Teixeira hurts wrist as Yankees lose to Orioles

NEW YORK – Mark Teixeira gave his teammates a scare when he came up shaking his left wrist after trying to make a diving stop at first base.

With Alex Rodriguez already sidelined, the suddenly slumping New York Yankees can't afford to lose another big bat from the middle of their lineup.

Teixeira was lifted after the seventh inning of the Yankees' 5-4 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Monday night, their eighth loss in 11 games.

"You don't want to see anybody go down, much less Tex," Raul Ibanez said. "Guys have to keep stepping up, we still got to keep plugging away."

Teixeira said he hurt the wrist in his third at-bat against Boston on Sunday. Still, he felt as if he could play before he tweaked the injury in the field.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi said X-rays on the wrist were negative and that Teixeira will have further tests Tuesday.

"I've had a little thing in my wrist before, back in 2009. Hopefully it will just get better in a few days," Teixeira said. "You're always playing through something."

Teixeira's turn in the order came up in the eighth inning with a runner on first and the Yankees trailing by a run, but defensive replacement Jayson Nix grounded into a fielder's choice against Pedro Strop.

"You're going to go through these things throughout the year," Girardi said. "It's concerning, but nobody is going to feel sorry for us."

The Yankees pulled to 5-4 in the seventh when Eric Chavez and Ichiro Suzuki hit consecutive homers to chase rookie Miguel Gonzalez (3-2).

Closer Jim Johnson gave up a leadoff double to Nick Swisher in the ninth. With one out, Chavez walked, and Suzuki walked to the plate to chants of "Ee-Chi-ro!" He grounded to shortstop but, still speedy at 38 years old, he beat the relay throw from second to put runners on first and third for Martin. After Suzuki stole second, Johnson struck Martin out for his 31st save.

"I would have liked to have seen the result," Suzuki said through a translator. "You can see that we put pressure on them tonight, we were just a hit away."

Nick Markakis drove in two runs and Wilson Betemit homered in the third off Freddy Garcia (4-5) for Baltimore, which has had trouble scoring of late. The Orioles cut New York's lead in the AL East to 6 1/2 games despite winning for just the third time in eight games.

"We know where we stand, who we're up against," Markakis said. "We just got to take it day by day."

Baltimore hasn't been to the playoffs since 1997 and with the trade deadline looming Tuesday afternoon is rumored to be in the market for a starter to shore up the rotation.

Gonzalez could help offer stability to a staff that has had nine pitchers start games this season. Making his fifth big league start, Gonzalez allowed six hits and four runs. He struck out a career-high eight without walking a batter but is having trouble with the long ball, giving up three Monday and nine in five starts.

"The kid did a nice job tonight," Girardi said. "He was successful with his changeup when he was behind in the count, and he was successful expanding the zone when he was ahead of the count"

Ibanez has New York's other homer with a leadoff shot in the fifth. Suzuki's drive was his first with New York and the 100th of his career. He was greeted by a loud ovation when he took the field the next inning.

Gonzalez helped the Yankees get on the board first, balking Ibanez to second after his two-out single in the second inning. Chavez followed with an RBI hit to left field.

Betemit opened the third with a soaring fly to right that left Suzuki standing at the wall watching as the ball landed several rows into the seats, tying the game.

The Orioles went ahead on back-to-back sacrifice flys by Omar Quintanilla and Markakis.

Garcia tied a season high by allowing nine hits in six innings. He did not walk a batter and struck out two.

NOTES: The Yankees have said they are committed to get their payroll for 2014 under the $189 million threshold for paying a luxury tax, and Brian Cashman reiterated that when asked about possibly trading for a high-priced player Monday. "I cannot speak about another team's player, but if there's a hypothetical, mythical beast that makes like $25 million a year for the next X amount of years that (hit the market) we certainly could not participate at that type of level of talent, financial talent." ... RHP Joba Chamberlain will make a rehab appearance for Double-A Trenton on Tuesday. ... Orioles 2B Robert Andino (left shoulder) played in a rehab game for Triple-A Norfolk Sunday, going 1 for 5. He could join Baltimore in New York on Tuesday if all goes well in Monday's game. ... Orioles slugger Jim Thome will have an MRI Tuesday morning. He has not played since Friday because of neck spasms.