ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) – Gary Sheffield was scratched from the New York Yankees’ lineup for Saturday night’s game against the Texas Rangers because of his sore left wrist.

Sheffield injured his wrist April 29 when he collided with Toronto’s Shea Hillenbrand at first base. The right fielder then missed three games before returning as a pinch-hitter Thursday night. Sheffield was 0-for-5 Friday night in his first start in five games.

“I’m not getting any feeling off the bat,” Sheffield said before Saturday’s game. “It’s easy to do in batting practice when it’s 70 mph and coming straight. But when you have to stay back on breaking balls and have to turn your wrist over, that’s when you feel it.

“I’ve got to get at least to the point where I can handle pitches whether I’m banged up or not.”

Manager Joe Torre said Sheffield would be kept out of the starting lineup again Sunday, but that the slugger would be available off the bench. The Yankees have a day off Monday before starting a series against Boston.

“We hope he’ll be OK Tuesday,” Torre said.

When the lineup change was announced about 90 minutes before Saturday’s game, Bubba Crosby was inserted into the starting lineup batting ninth. Everybody else in the batting order moved up a spot, including Alex Rodriguez back into the No. 4 spot where he had been in every game until Friday night.

Rodriguez was inadvertently dropped into the No. 5 spot Friday when Sheffield returned to the lineup. Torre told bench coach Lee Mazzilli to insert Sheffield back into the No. 3 spot and move everybody else back down. Torre didn’t take into account that Jason Giambi had been in the No. 3 spot while Sheffield was out.

A-Rod, who had been in a 2-for-22 slump, went 2-for-4 with three RBIs batting fifth Friday. Torre planned to use the same lineup Saturday until Sheffield was scratched.

AP-ES-05-06-06 1923EDT