Lowe signed by Yankees to add relief

TORONTO — David Phelps will make CC Sabathia’s start against the muscular Rangers tomorrow night at Yankee Stadium, and Phelps’ place in the long relief role will be handled by 39-year-old right-hander Derek Lowe, who was signed by the Yankees last night and will join them tomorrow.

Ryota Igarashi will join the Yankees from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre for today’s game against the Blue Jays to serve as bullpen protection.

Lowe was designated for assignment by the Indians Aug. 1 and released Friday. And while his numbers weren’t good in Cleveland, two-time former teammate Johnny Damon believes Lowe’s experience will help.

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BLUE WITH ENVY: Blue Jays catcher Yan Gomes is likely wondering how it must feel to be a Yankee after watching Casey McGehee celebrate a home run in the Bombers’ 5-2 triumph yesterday.

“The biggest thing in Cleveland was when he started to struggle he should have maybe missed a start but he kept going and got into a funk,’’ said Damon, who was also recently released by the Indians. “But he is battle-tested and a heck of a teammate in Boston and Cleveland. I’m glad he ended up with a team that is definitely going to the playoffs.’’

Lowe was 8-10 with a 5.52 ERA for the Indians and gave up 156 hits in 119 innings to go with 45 walks.

Sticking to his original idea to rest Curtis Granderson Friday night and Ichiro Suzuki yesterday, manager Joe Girardi didn’t put Ichiro’s sizzling bat in the starting lineup before yesterday’s 5-2 victory over the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.

Considering Ichiro drove in five runs Friday night, was 6-for-7 with nine RBIs with runners in scoring position in the previous four games and was hitting .353 (7-for-16) against Blue Jays starter Aaron Laffey, leaving Ichiro on the bench for the first time as a Yankee couldn’t have been easy.

“That’s a tough thing but that’s the way we chose to do it,’’ said Girardi, who used Nick Swisher in right, Andruw Jones in left, Granderson in center and Derek Jeter as the DH.

Ichiro eventually entered the game as a ninth-inning defensive replacement.

* Derek Jeter’s two hits gave him 150 for this season, marking the 17th straight season Jeter he has recorded at least 150 hits. Hank Aaron is the only other player ever to accomplish that.

“You try to be consistent,’’ Jeter said. “I’m proud of it. I have been fortunate.’’

* Girardi said the Yankees were trying to get a pitcher to Toronto to take CC Sabathia’s roster spot in time for today’s game.

Cory Wade is a candidate but he worked two innings for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Friday night.

Watching Blue Jays second baseman Kelly Johnson and left fielder Rajai Davis lose balls in the lights Friday night wasn’t a big surprise to the Yankees.