Sore Beltran returns to lineup as designated hitter

ST. PETERSBURG -- Carlos Beltran said that his sore left shoulder and right wrist are improving after Friday's tumble over a short wall in right field at Tropicana Field, and he returned to the lineup as the designated hitter on Saturday.

"A lot better," Beltran said. "Not 100 percent, but yesterday I went to the cage, hit a little bit during the game. I felt fine. Today I feel a lot better compared to how I felt yesterday."

Beltran flipped over the wall chasing Desmond Jennings' foul ball in the third inning of Thursday's 10-2 victory. He did not undergo any concussion tests, and he hopes to return to the outfield on Sunday, when the Yankees wrap up their four-game series with the Rays.

"We're extremely lucky," manager Joe Girardi said. "I wasn't sure if we'd have him this weekend with how hard he hit [the ground], but he bounced back quick."