Martin misses series finale with stiff neck

OAKLAND -- Yankees catcher Russell Martin was held out of Sunday's lineup against the Athletics with a stiff neck, but the team is hopeful he will not miss more than one game.

"It was pretty bad yesterday; it's better today, but it's not quite where it needs to be," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Sunday. "Hopefully he'll be able to play [Monday]."

Martin did not catch on Saturday against the Athletics, but that was not unexpected because backup catcher Chris Stewart and ace CC Sabathia have been working together since the middle of April.

"I aggravated it lifting [Saturday] before the game," Martin said. "I was doing a dumbbell press, explosive movement on the way up, and on the way up I jerked my neck. I tweaked it somehow."

The 29-year-old Martin has endured a frustrating start to his season. He is batting .177 with four home runs and 10 RBIs in 39 games, having batted .237 with 18 homers and 65 RBIs in 125 contests for New York last season.

"Maybe it'll keep my head locked in better at the plate," Martin said.