Nunez day to day; X-rays on knee negative

TORONTO -- There were giggles in the Yankees' clubhouse when a wheelchair mysteriously replaced the seat in front of Eduardo Nunez's locker, a reference to the infielder's theatrics after crumpling to the artificial turf with a right knee injury on Tuesday.

Vernon Wells, Joba Chamberlain and David Huff took the prank further, scurrying out with athletic tape to "chalk" a body outline near second base at Rogers Centre. It was all in good fun until Nunez had to cut short batting practice ahead of Wednesday's 7-2 Yankees loss to the Blue Jays, after which the club revealed that Nunez would require an MRI exam on the knee. On Thursday, the results of that exam came back negative, and the Yankees declared Nunez day to day.

Mark Reynolds made his first career start at second base on Wednesday, filling in for Nunez, who said that he caught a spike in the turf during the eighth inning of Tuesday's 7-1 win over the Blue Jays.

"Weird things happen to me all the time, I guess," Nunez said.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi said before Wednesday's game that Nunez was only about "50-50" to play, and he never entered. The Yankees were also without second baseman Robinson Cano, who is not expected to play until Friday at the earliest because of a left hand bruise.

Girardi said that he spoke to general manager Brian Cashman about calling up an infielder, but no move was made.

"We talked about it a little bit, but I didn't want to," Girardi said. "We probably would have had to get rid of a pitcher, and I didn't want to do that for one day."

Girardi said that he had been amused by the players' ribbing of Nunez.

"It's to be expected -- it's good," Girardi said. "It's good that they're in a good mood in there, and they're loose, and they had a little fun."

Nunez had also laughed about the pranks in the clubhouse, guessing that either Derek Jeter or Cano had been involved somehow.

"I think these guys have to be part of this team," Nunez said. "I've got to find out; do something, too."