Talk about bad timing. Heading into a four-game series with the first-place Yankees after being swept out of Tampa Bay, it appears that Jason Bay's services will be limited in the Bronx.
Despite crushing a moon-shot in Boston's 6-4 loss to the Rays on Wednesday night in St. Petersburg, Bay was removed from the contest and has hinted to reporters that he will likely miss the first half of the upcoming series with the Yankees.
"It doesn't feel real bad, but it's definitely going to be a couple days," Bay told projo.com. "I would have to say the chances of playing [Thursday] are probably not good."
Bay's Wednesday night homer at the Trop was his first in 21 games, but his 21st on the season. Bay was removed from last Saturday's game against the Orioles with a cramp in his leg and sat out the following two games — a total of three days of rest. On Wednesday, Nick Green took over for Bay in left field in the eighth inning as a precaution.
Although he is yearning to get a crack at the first-place Pinstripes, Bay feels that he will spend a few more days on the bench before taking the field at Yankee Stadium.
"I definitely more than anything would love to be out there. But for the next day or two I don't think that's going to happen," Bay said.
Bay is hitting .252 with 21 homers and 75 RBIs. He is a .325 career hitter against the Yankees with four homers and 21 RBIs in 80 at bats. At the new Yankee Stadium, Bay is 4-for-8 with two homers, five RBIs and three runs scored.
