Alex Rodriguez is back in the Yankees’ lineup tonight, not a moment too soon for the drowning Bombers (20-24).
The Yankees went 6-11 in his absence, fell to last place in the AL East and were embarrassed at home by getting swept by the Mets in the two-game Subway Series this past weekend.
Rodriguez’s first challenge will come against Daniel Cabrera and the Orioles (23-20), who visit The Bronx tonight (7, YES, WABC).
The Orioles, at three games over .500, have been one of the pleasant surprises in baseball. They were the team expected be in the cellar of the AL East.
“You can’t hang your hat on one player,” Joe Girardi said of Rodriguez. “It’s going to take 25, and for us, it’s taken about 32 or 33 so far. It’s going to continue to take that. Obviously, we’re getting a great player back, but he can’t do it alone. Everyone has to contribute.”
Another piece to the Yankees’ puzzle remains on the disabled list. Jorge Posada is shooting to return in early June.
The trio of replacements for Rodriguez were unimpressive at the plate. Morgan Ensberg, the main culprit, went 4-for-30 with one RBI. Light-hitting Alberto Gonzalez was 2-for-15.
Wilson Betemit came off the DL after having eye conjunctivitis and proved to be a formidable bat in his brief return. Betemit was 5-for-13 with a home run, but promptly pulled his hamstring running to second base after belting a double against the Tigers on May 10, four days after coming back to the team.
“He’s the best player around,” outfielder Johnny Damon said of Rodriguez. “It’s always nice being able to plug the best player in the game in the four spot. He will make a big difference, but hopefully it makes the rest of us better.
“The rest of us haven’t been too good as of late. We’ve been going on about 10 straight days of struggles.”
Like Damon, Derek Jeter knows Rodriguez’s return won’t heal all that ails the Yankees. The entire team has struggled with the bat, not just the third basemen’s spot in the order since Rodriguez’s strained right quad forced him to the DL April 30.
“It doesn’t make a difference if guys aren’t in the lineup,” Jeter said. “You could have brought back Gehrig, Ruth and DiMaggio. We need to swing the bats better as a group. When you’ve got guys out of the lineup, other guys have to pick it up. Every team deals with injuries throughout the year.”
Rodriguez spent the last three days playing simulated game in Tampa Bay and is anxious to rejoin his teammates in The Bronx.
“I’m happy,” Rodriguez said. “I’m excited to get back to Yankee Stadium and playing baseball. That’s where I belong.”
Tonight’s Pitching Matchup:
Yankees RHP Mike Mussina (6-3, 3.99 ERA) Mussina, the former Oriole, has won his past five starts, allowing nine runs in 29-1/3 innings in that stretch. The successful streak coincides with co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner’s dig that Mussina needed to pitch more like Jamie Moyer.
Orioles RHP Daniel Cabrera (4-1, 3.58 ERA) Cabrera is 4-6 with a 4.81 ERA lifetime against the Yankees, but on Sept. 28, 2006 Cabrera came within two outs of a no-hitter at Yankee Stadium. Cabrera, who has seven straight quality starts, is off to the best start in his career.
With Yankees.com
