Yankees' Girardi Not Ready To Move Struggling A-Rod Down In Lineup
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- With the hot-hitting Robinson Cano on deck, Alex Rodriguez whiffed to end the game Monday night, sending the Yankees home tied 1-1 with Baltimore in the best-of-five ALDS.
It was the second strikeout of the night and fifth this series for A-Rod, who in two games has gone just 1 for 9 in the No. 3 spot. So is it time to drop him in the batting order?
Not according to manager Joe Girardi.
"Right now, I don't plan on having any changes to our lineup," Girardi said after the 3-2 loss.
A-Rod, who could have tied the game with one swing, hasn't launched a home run since Sept. 14 and has only six extra-base hits since his return from the disabled list early last month.
"He squared up two balls tonight," said Girardi. "You look at the ball he hit in the first inning, he squared it up, and then he had the other hard single. Right now, I don't have any plans to make any changes."
After the game, Rodriguez said he felt "OK" and it was a matter of finishing "some of these at-bats."
It seems he'll get at least one more shot in the all-important No. 3 slot, and it'll come in front of the home crowd. Tied 1-all, the series shifts to Yankee Stadium for two more games -- and a third, if necessary.
"We've played very well at home, and we're going to have to continue to do that if we're going to move on," said Girardi. "It seems like Baltimore and us have kind of went back and forth all year, and that's what we did here."
Is it time to put Robbie in the No. 3 spot? Be heard in the comments below!
