Derek Jeter fractures left ankle in 12th inning, will miss rest of postseason
Derek Jeter will miss the rest of the postseason after fracturing his left ankle in the 12th inning of the New York Yankees' 6-4 loss to the Detroit Tigers in Game 1 of the ALCS on Saturday night at Yankee Stadium.
"His ankle fractured, he's out ... he's out," Yankees manager Joe Girardi told reporters after the game. "They talked about a three-month recovery period. It won't jeopardize his career, but he will not be playing any more for us this year."
Jeter suffered the injury after ranging to his left for an infield grounder hit by Jhonny Peralta. He stumbled and fell to the ground while screaming out in pain. He needed assistance off the field as a stunned Yankee Stadium crowd looked on in silence.
"If he's not getting up, something's wrong," Girardi said. "Because when we've seen what he's played through the last month and a half and the pain that he's been in ... "
[Related: Yankees try to disguise empty seats at ALCS by moving fans]
Girardi said that Jeter will be replaced on the ALCS roster by Eduardo Nunez and shook off a reporter's question asking if Alex Rodriguez might slide over from third and play short.
"It's been too long," Girardi said of A-Rod, whose last start at short came in 2003 with the Texas Rangers. "I wouldn't do that to him."
It goes without saying, but this is a huge loss for the Yankees and their chances. Jeter went 1 for 5 with two strikeouts on Saturday night, but he's been one of the few reliable options on the Yankees roster this postseason, hitting .364 against the Baltimore Orioles in the ALDS.
Make sure all your bases are covered this postseason ...
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