Girardi impressed by Cano's new patience at plate

OAKLAND, Calif. - Robinson Cano didn't have a hit Tuesday night and struck out twice.

Yet for Joe Girardi it was still a good night for his No. 5 hitter as Cano, a self-described "free swinger," reached base three times by matching a career best with three walks.

"It is impressive," Girardi said Wednesday. "We've talked about this young man that we think he's maturing and he has a better idea of what he needs to do and how to work pitchers and what to look for in certain at-bats and situations . . . He's growing up."

Cano, with five walks this season, is not the walk machine teammates Nick Johnson (16), Nick Swisher (11) or Mark Teixeira (11) are. But he has watched them closely, Johnson in particular.

"I watch Nick Johnson, he doesn't chase pitches," Cano said. "If it's not what he wants, he doesn't swing. That's why he's so successful at getting on base. That's a guy you learn how to take pitches and how to walk."

It is a work in progress for Cano, who struggled last year with runners in scoring position because he was less selective with runners on, but still only struck out 63 times, second least among regulars (Melky Cabrera had 59).

"It's not difficult ," said Cano, hitting .327 with a .375 OBP going into last night. "I'm a free swinger but you know what, it's not hard. This started in spring training. I've been swinging great so that's what I'm doing right now, just taking pitches, seeing what I want and if it's not [what I want], I take a walk. I swing at what I want."

Day off for Swisher

Randy Winn, with just six at-bats this season, got the start in rightfield in place of Swisher, who snapped out of a 0-for-16 slump Tuesday night with a two-run single. "Just a day off for Swish and keeping everyone involved," Girardi said. "Swish is fine."