Josh Reddick fractures thumb in A’s 4-1 loss to Yankees

OAKLAND - Josh Reddick was trying to make something happen, hoping to put himself into position to score. He’s likely going to miss a month at minimum as a result of a fractured thumb.

“Frustrating isn’t even the right word,” Reddick said following the A’s 4-1 loss to the New York Yankees on Thursday night. “I’m ticked off more than anything. I was having a great season and now this. Something so simple can be so damaging.”

Reddick, who hit a solo home run in the fourth for the A’s only run, caught his thumb on Starlin Castro’s spike stealing second base in the seventh.

“I had the green light at that point. I was trying to help the club win a game,” Reddick said. “We were down a run. Unfortunately, those things happen.”

Reddick’s injury put a damper on what was a solid effort from right-hander Kendall Graveman (1-6), who beat the Yankees on April 20 for his only win this season, and suffered his fifth consecutive loss. He gave up eight hits in 52/3 innings with three walks and four strikeouts.

“That was the best sinker I’ve had all year, to both sides of the plate,” Graveman said. “I have been working hard to stay on top of the routine between starts so I don’t struggle before the game.”

Ivan Nova pitched six innings for his second win since moving into the starting rotation, Carlos Beltran hit a two-run homer and the Yankees held on.

“It is very different than being in the bullpen,” said Nova, who is unbeaten in three starts this season.

Oakland swept New York when the teams played in the Bronx but got little going against Nova and three relievers.

Nova (3-1) allowed one run and four hits in his longest outing this season since replacing the injured CC Sabathia in the Yankees’ rotation. The right-hander threw just 62 pitches, had three strikeouts and lowered his ERA to 1.65 in three starts.

The Yankees missed multiple opportunities to break the game open but took a 2-1 lead on RBI doubles by Beltran in the third and Hicks in the sixth.

Beltran hit his ninth home run of the season and the 401st of his career in the ninth.

The A’s managed just three runners after Reddick’s homer and hit into two double plays.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Yankees: DH Alex Rodriguez could miss the entire series in Oakland due to his sore hamstring. Rodriguez did some light running around the bases before the game but manager Joe Girardi said it’s questionable if he’ll be activated by the weekend. “He went a little bit faster today on the arcs but it’s still not where he needs to be yet,” Girardi said. … RHP Luis Severino (right triceps strain) is scheduled to throw Friday for the first time since going on the DL.

Athletics: RHP Henderson Alvarez continues to await word on his troublesome right shoulder. He had an MRI earlier in the week but the results were inconclusive and sent to Dr. James Andrews for further evaluation.

UP NEXT

Yankees: Sabathia (2-2) is scheduled to come off the DL to start today at the Coliseum. Sabathia is seeking his 100th career win.

Athletics: RHP Sonny Gray (3-3) pitches the second game of the series and is winless over his last four games. Gray has allowed three runs or more in each of his previous five starts.