YANKEE NOTES
ST. PETERSBURG - It's never good to link Carl Pavano to any big-league player, but Mark Teixeira and the "American Idle" were connected yesterday when the Yankees stuffed the switch-hitting first baseman into the "Carl Pavano Memorial MRI Tube" to check on his sore left wrist. "The MRI showed it's better than expected," said Teixeira, who sat out a third straight game last night with tendinitis. "It looks very good. [Playing tonight] is the plan. I would be very disappointed if I am not playing [tonight]."
With lefty Scott Kazmir pitching last night and the hand bothering Teixeira when he swung from the right side, Joe Girardi figured another day off would be best.
"I expect him back [tonight]," said Girardi, who started Nick Swisher at first. "I don't want to lose him for a long period of time."
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Girardi juggled the lineup against Kazmir without much result. Center fielder Brett Gardner was deleted and replaced by switch-hitter Melky Cabrera, who was 4-for-13 against Kazmir and went 2-for-2 against him last night.
Hideki Matsui, who was 4-for-20 versus Kazmir, went from fourth to seventh and was 0-for-3 without getting a ball out of the infield. Jorge Posada (9-for-19) was elevated to the cleanup spot and went 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
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The Rays raised the 2008 AL championship banner last night and will distribute rings tonight. "They deserve it, they did what we want to do this year," Girardi said.
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Derek Jeter on Nick Swisher pitching: "The way Swisher has been playing, is anybody surprised he didn't give up a run? You get a chuckle out of it, but he won't stop talking about it."
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RHP A.J. Burnett (1-0, 3.38 ERA) draws RHP Matt Garza (1-0, 1.29) tonight.
