Cervelli was hurt when he fouled a ball off his foot in Wednesday’s exhibition game against Houston, and the break is above the toes. Yankees manager Joe Girardi announced the extent of the injury before last night’s game against the Red Sox in Tampa.

Test results will be reviewed by a foot specialist. It’s not known how long it will take for Cervelli to complete a rehab program once the boot is removed.

Girardi said there are no current plans to use Jorge Posada, who is moving from catcher to designated hitter this season, behind the plate in spring training games.

“I can’t tell you 100 percent, exactly, what’s going to happen over the next four weeks,’’ Girardi said. “I can’t. Just like I wouldn’t have predicted this, but right now I don’t plan on having him really catch in a game. We’ll see what the other guys can do.’’

Highly regarded prospects Jesus Montero and Austin Romine, and short-time Red Sox catcher Gustavo Molina are the top contenders to back up starter Russell Martin, who had offseason surgery to repair a minor tear in his right knee.

Ball hits Garza Cubs pitcher Matt Garza was hit in the lower back by a line drive and stayed in the game for two more batters before leaving his start against the Royals.

Garza was struck by Jeff Francoeur’s liner with one out in the second inning. After manager Mike Quade and a trainer checked on him, Garza retired the next two batters. He was then removed for precautionary reasons. Chicago lost, 5-4.

“Everything’s fine,’’ said Garza, who had a baseball-size welt on his back.

Tribe a hot topic The day didn’t start out well for the Indians, but it turned around.

An old clothes dryer nicknamed “The Burner’’ caught fire early in the morning, causing minor damage at Goodyear Ballpark, which the Indians share with the Reds. No one was injured, but the dryer, which the team brought from Florida when it changed spring training sites in 2009, was destroyed.

The facility’s sprinkler system flooded the indoor bullpen and batting cage area behind the right-field wall. Water seeped under onto the field, forcing the grounds crew to repair the warning track before the Indians hosted the Rockies.

“On my way in, I saw all the police cars and a helicopter,’’ said manager Manny Acta. “My first thought was it was an escapee from jail.’’

Cleveland won the game, 6-2, and Shin Soo-Choo was in right field for the first time in a game this spring and reported no problems with his left elbow after playing five innings. Choo hyperextended this throwing elbow during offseason training.

Peavy on mound Jake Peavy pitched two scoreless innings for the White Sox in his first outing since suffering a detached muscle in his right shoulder last July. Peavy struck out two and walked one in a 3-1 loss to the Angels in Tempe, Ariz. . . . Manny Ramirez was not originally on the Rays’ travel roster, but he asked manager Joe Maddon if he could play against the Twins in Fort Myers, Fla. Ramirez started in left field and hit a two-out double off the left-field wall in the first. Minnesota won, 5-4 . . . The Astros expect catcher Jason Castro to be sidelined for most or all of the season following surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Castro, projected to be Houston’s primary catcher in his second big league season, was injured Wednesday while trying to avoid being tagged . . . Rangers general manager Jon Daniels received a four-year contract extension through the 2015 season.