Girardi goes with lefties against Liriano
Minnesota Twins relief pitchers Jon Rauch, second from right, and Jose mijares, right, watch as Francisco Liriano throws during a baseball workout, Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2010, in Minneapolis. The Twins host the New York Yankees on Wednesday in Game 1 of the American League Divisions Series. Liriano is scheduled to start Game 1. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) Credit: AP Photo/Jim Mone
MINNEAPOLIS - Yankees manager Joe Girardi decided to start his lefthanded-hitting outfielders in Game 1 of the ALDS against Minnesota Twins lefthander Francisco Liriano.
Curtis Granderson and Brett Gardner were the No. 8 and 9 hitters as the Yankees take on the Twins in the series opener at Target Field. Girardi had mulled starting righthanded-hitting Austin Kearns in place of Gardner, as he had in several late-season games.
"Gardy's had some success against Liriano and Austin's been kind of banged up," Girardi said. "Have a big outfield here, so I went with Gardy."
Gardner is 3-for-9 (.333) vs. Liriano. Granderson is 4-for-22 (.182). Kearns is 2-for-5 (.400).
Liriano held lefthanded hitters to a .218 batting average with no home runs this season. Gardner batted .252 vs. lefties this season, Granderson .234.
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