The Associated Press

NEW YORK - Jason Giambi has an inflamed tendon in his left knee and chronic patella tendinitis, and the New York Yankees first baseman will have arthroscopic surgery after the World Series.

After playing the field in Games 3 and 4, Giambi was pulled from the starting lineup Thursday because of knee soreness. He will be the Yankees' designated hitter in Game 6 today as the Series against Florida returns to Yankee Stadium.

Giambi had an MRI exam Friday, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said.

"Jason has been dealing with a knee issue throughout the year," Cashman said. "We tried to tough it up and tried to keep it as quiet as possible. But then it got to the point where it was becoming a problem."

Cashman said Giambi will have diagnostic arthroscopic surgery soon after the final game.

Shortstop Derek Jeter often has ice packs on his left shoulder and ribcage, and has a thumb injury that's been bothering him, too. He dislocated his left shoulder on opening day, and it isn't clear if it will need surgery after the season.

Jeter said Friday he's OK.

"Once the season is over, we'll address every need that he has," Cashman said of Jeter.

David Wells, whose aching back forced him out of Game 5 after eight pitches, was at Yankee Stadium on Friday for treatment. He didn't speak to reporters.

"We got to the ballpark this morning about 4-something," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "Wells was trying to navigate from the bus to the parking lot with a suitcase. It wasn't very pretty."

NUMBERS GAME: If it seems as if a hit or two by the Yankees would have turned around the World Series for them, it's because the numbers bear that out.

The Marlins are hitting .243 (9-for-37) with runners in scoring position, and the Yankees are batting just .163 (7-for-43), according to the Elias Sports Bureau. New York is 0-for-6 with the bases loaded.

Florida has driven in three of five runners who have reached third base with fewer than two outs, while New York has knocked in just two of seven.

New York has not hit in the clutch for much of the postseason. The Yankees are batting .239 (34-for-142) with runners in scoring position and .133 (2-for-15) with the bases loaded. New York has driven in just 12-of-26 runners who have reached third base with fewer than two outs.

FAMILIAR SURROUNDINGS: Marlins manager Jack McKeon, who grew up in New Jersey, is happy his team is facing the Yankees.

"I was always a Yankees fan," he said.

"When we were sitting there in Chicago, waiting to see who we were going to play, the Red Sox or the Yankees, we didn't really care. We were happy to be there. But deep down in my heart, I'm saying, 'I want to play the Yankees, 'cause that's something special.' Your first World Series, you get to play in Yankee Stadium in the World Series. Win or lose, this is special."

SORIANO: After taking Alfonso Soriano out of the starting lineup in Game 5, Torre hasn't decided whether to put him back at second base today.

"We'll talk tomorrow," Torre said. "I'll see if I can read how he's doing. Again, he's pressing. When you go up against Game 6 and it's an elimination game, it doesn't make it any more relaxing."

ROCKET REPORT: While Roger Clemens would be available in relief if there is a Game 7 on Sunday, Torre doesn't plan to use the Rocket today.

TV RATINGS SOAR: Television ratings for Game 5 of the World Series were 32 percent higher than those of a year ago. Thursday night's game between the Yankees and Marlins posted a national rating of 13.2 with a 21 share for Fox Sports, well above the 10.0 and 17 share for Game 5 last year between the Anaheim and San Francisco.

For the first time since 1986, each game of this World Series has had a better rating than the previous year's. Last year's Angels-Giants matchup drew the lowest ever TV rating for the event.

The five-game average rating for this World Series is 12.6, up 17 percent from last year. The rating is the percentage of all homes with TVs, even if they are not in use.