ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez was scratched from New York’s starting lineup Wednesday because of a sore right knee.
Rodriguez had right knee surgery in July and has just 13 hits in 68 at-bats since returning Aug. 21. He also sprained his left thumb shortly after coming off the disabled list last month.
Rodriguez had been dropped from his normal fourth spot in the lineup for the game against Rays left-hander David Price. Mark Teixeira hit third, with Robinson Cano moving into the cleanup spot.
New York manager Joe Girardi didn’t rule out using the same set-up during the postseason.
“Tex has been very, very good against left-handers,” Girardi said. “And keep Alex behind Robby.”
Footnotes.
The Marlins formally introduced Ozzie Guillen as the successor to 80-year-old manager Jack McKeon.
• The Mariners and Athletics will open next season in Japan with a two-game series at the Tokyo Dome on March 28 and 29.
• Indians bench coach Tim Tolman is stepping down from his role amid a battle with Parkinson’s disease. Tolman said he expects to remain with the organization in an unspecified role. First-base coach Sandy Alomar will replace the 55-year-old Tolman in Cleveland’s dugout next season.
• Greg Walker resigned after nine seasons as hitting coach with the White Sox, who also announced a four-year contract extension with popular TV announcer Ken “Hawk” Harrelson. The Associated Press
