SS Derek Jeter held out of New York Yankees lineup due to sore left ankle

Jeter held out of Yankees lineup with ankle injury

NEW YORK — Yankees manager Joe Girardi held firm Wednesday, leaving Derek Jeter out of the starting lineup despite the shortstop’s insistence that his sore left ankle was fine.

Jeter came out of New York’s 5-3 victory over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night after seven innings. His MRI on Wednesday was fine, but Girardi opted to hold him out.

“It worries me a little bit, but he told me he was playing tonight,” Girardi said with a chuckle, “which makes me believe that he feels better. My thought process, though, is if he goes out there and he just irritates it again then we’re back at square one.”

Jeter said his ankle was sore before the series opener against Washington and got worse during the game, but downplayed the ailment in his typical fashion.

“It wasn’t a particular play where I felt something,” he said. “I think it just progressed but it’s not a big deal. I could play today if they’d let me.”

Ramiro Pena got the start at shortstop and was batting eighth for Wednesday night’s game against the Nationals. Left fielder Johnny Damon replaced Jeter in the leadoff spot and right fielder Nick Swisher moved up to the No. 2 hole.

Pena replaced Jeter when he left Tuesday’s game and hit an RBI single in the eighth inning.

Jeter said he might have hurt himself Sunday when Gary Sheffield of the New York Mets slid into second base during a double play, but he wasn’t certain. The nine-time All-Star is batting .306 with nine homers and 30 RBIs in 61 games this season.

“Just banged up a little bit,” Jeter said.

Also on Wednesday, injured outfielder Xavier Nady (right elbow ligament) threw in front of Girardi and said he’s hoping to play four innings in the field in a rehab game in Florida on Friday.

“Hitting’s fine. I haven’t had any troubles hitting,” Nady said. “It’s just obviously throwing. But the last few days have gone good, so that’s encouraging and I feel like each day it’s kind of progressing.”