Andrew Marchand, ESPN Senior Writer 12y

Soriano hurt, Yanks short on relief for Weds

Rafael Soriano tore the nail on his middle finger warming up during Tuesday's Yankees win over the Orioles. Soriano ended up not pitching during the game and Joe Girardi is unsure if he will be available on Wednesday.

"When he was warming up in the seventh, he tore his nail on a slider," Girardi said.

After this happened, Girardi sat Soriano down and left David Phelps in the ballgame.

"When it got to be the 11th inning, I said, 'Can the trainer go down there and see if they can file it off and get it to stop bleeding?'" Girardi said. "They got it to stop bleeding and it was a question, 'Can I use him or not?' Me and [pitching coach Larry Rothschild] were going back-and-forth because if you put him in there and it starts bleeding again you could be in trouble. Now, the only guy you have left is Mo [Rivera]"

If Soriano couldn't pitch, the Yankees may have been left with Rivera and no one behind him if the game had gone much longer than its 12 innings. What would Giardi had done?

"We would have been in trouble," Girardi said.

Girardi said it is more important than normal he receives a lengthy outing from CC Sabathia because he used six relievers on Tuesday and may not have Soriano on Wednesday.

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