A-Rod might serve as DH for rest of regular season

TORONTO -- Hampered by a tight right calf, there's a chance Alex Rodriguez will be used as the Yankees' designated hitter for the remainder of the regular season, manager Joe Girardi told reporters prior to Thursday's series finale against the Blue Jays.

Rodriguez, who had to be lifted during Sunday's game against the Red Sox after injuring his calf, played the entire three-game set in Toronto, but ran the bases gingerly and was deployed as the DH in each contest.

He went 0-for-11 with three walks in the series.

"I'm fine, I'm happy with the way I've been swinging the bat, especially [Wednesday]," Rodriguez said after New York's 6-2 loss Thursday. "My objective is go up there, get a good pitch to hit and do some serious damage."

Rodriguez said he did some work on the field Thursday and will do so again Friday before the Yankees' contest with the Giants, and he hopes to get back to third base "sooner than later."

Girardi, who said Rodriguez hasn't complained about anything, was not as optimistic. With only nine games left in the regular season and New York fighting for one of the American League Wild Card spots, the Yankees skipper is not going to push the 38-year-old.

"I'd like to get him out there if we can, but if we can't, we'll deal with it," Girardi said. "It's just part of the gig.

"We will go day by day, and I will check with him every other day."

Since hitting his sixth homer of the season against the Orioles on Sept. 11, Rodriguez is mired in a 1-for-21 (.048) slump over his last seven contests. His lone hit was a single in Sunday's game before he was lifted after five innings.

Girardi is not concerned with his production, however, and said giving him a day off at this point is not a realistic option.

"You just keep running him out there," he said. "I think that's what you do."