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"I think that's the reason I got hurt," Bruney, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list April 25, said before Wednesday's game against Tampa Bay at Yankee Stadium. "That's the day I felt it."

Bruney was due to come off the disabled list this Sunday but said he would not be able to return for another two weeks -- at best.

"I don't know if there's a designated time limit for a strained muscle," Bruney said. "It's taking a lot longer than I thought."

Posada hit a disputed two-run, pinch-hit blast that turned a one-run deficit into a one-run Yankee lead and the Yankees went on to win, 7-3, against Cleveland.

While the umpires discussed the home run and checked instant replay to see if it was good or not, Bruney warmed up on the Yankee Stadium mound.

"I don't know if that umpiring crew is going to come out in 30 seconds, two minutes, four minutes, eight minutes, so I don't know. I gotta keep throwing," Bruney said of that game.

Bruney said he didn't notice the elbow pain until the following day.

"The next day I noticed it," he said.

Asked if he planned to speak to the Players Association about the delay, Bruney said: "I am the player rep so that is something that I will bring up with the Players Association."

He added: "Major League Baseball or somebody's gotta come up with a better solution to figure out if it's a home run or not."

The Yankees are 7-2 in games Bruney has pitched in this season and 17-2 over his last 19 appearances dating back to last Sept. 1.

Without Bruney and fellow injured reliever Damaso Marte (left shoulder), the Yankees bullpen has struggled mightily.

The bullpen has a bloated 6.35 ERA and has given up 88 hits and 67 runs in 85 innings.

In Tuesday's 7-3 loss to the Red Sox -- the team's fifth straight to their rivals -- the bullpen turned a 4-3 deficit into a four-run deficit by allowing three runs in the eighth and ninth innings.

Bruney is doing a combination of ultrasound, massage and heat and cold contrast to alleviate the pain in his elbow but said he isn't sure when he might return.