The season-ending injury to Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter means adjustments in New York's lineup, and here is manager Joe Girardi's starting nine for Game 2 of the American League Championship Series, with right-hander Anibal Sanchez starting for the Detroit Tigers:
The Yankees’ Jeter-less lineup for Game 2
1. Ichiro Suzuki* - LF
2. Robinson Cano* - 2B
3. Mark Teixeira# - 1B
4. Raul Ibanez* - DH
5. Russell Martin - C
6. Alex Rodriguez - 3B
7. Curtis Granderson* - CF
8. Nick Swisher# - RF
9. Jayson Nix - SS
Sanchez made one start against the Yankees after he was acquired from the Marlins, August 8 at Comerica Park, and the visiting New Yorkers pounded him all over the yard; Curtis Granderson hit a home run.
Girardi has obviously elected to keep Alex Rodriguez in the lineup, even though he’s 4 for 47 in his last 10 postseason games, and hasn’t hit a home run since last April.*
* hyperbole
Of course, Rodriguez isn’t the only slumping Yankee, and so Curtis Granderson and Nick Swisher are still in the lineup but even further down than Rodriguez, even with a right-hander on the mound.
The Yankees will counter Sanchez with right-hander Hiroki Kuroda, who is going on three days rest.
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