Beltran hurts rib cage, hopes to avoid DL

ANAHEIM -- Yankees outfielder Carlos Beltran was removed from Tuesday night's 2-1 loss to the Angels at Angel Stadium after aggravating a left rib cage injury, and he hopes to avoid a stint on the disabled list.

Beltran winced after connecting on a foul ball in the fifth inning against the Angels' Andrew Heaney. Beltran was visited at home plate by manager Joe Girardi and assistant athletic trainer Mark Littlefield and stayed in the game, grounding out.

After the half-inning, Beltran was replaced by Garrett Jones in right field. The switch-hitting Beltran said the injury bothers him more from the right side of the plate.

"Yesterday during the game I was sore, and today I felt basically the same," Beltran said. "But on that swing where I hit the foul ball, I felt a little pinch. Out of precaution, Joe decided to take me out of the game. Hopefully I ice it with treatment and tomorrow I wake up feeling better."

Girardi said that the Yankees would wait to see how Beltran feels on Wednesday afternoon before making a decision, and any tests could wait until the team returns to New York. Beltran said that he does not expect to be placed on the DL.

"The way I feel right now, I don't think so," Beltran said. "But [Wednesday] will be the day where, once I go to the cage, once I test it out, then I will know where I am."

Beltran is batting .260 with seven homers and 30 RBIs in 66 games this season.