CityGuy

NEW YORK -- Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter left Monday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays after two innings with a strained left groin, a Yankees source told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney.

Jeter said his leg first bothered him Sunday but he thought it was a cramp. He felt it grab again when he beat out a potential double-play grounder in the first inning.

"I didn't aggravate it but I didn't really push it," Jeter said. "I felt something so I didn't want to be stupid and I came out and hopefully it won't be too long."

Jeter departed before the third inning and an MRI revealed the strain. Manager Joe Girardi said he won't play Tuesday afternoon against Kansas City, but the club didn't have any immediate plans to put him on the disabled list.

"Leg injuries aren't an exact science," Girardi said. "Hopefully it'll be less than a week but we'll have to see."

The Yankees didn't miss Jeter on another chilly night in the Bronx. New York salvaged a split of the four-game series with a 6-1 win.

Morgan Ensberg came in to play first base before the third inning, and Wilson Betemit switched from first to shortstop to replace Jeter.

MzTekila

Hope Jeter is ok ...