Posada dropped to 9th, then scratched from lineup
Jorge Posada (20) of the New York Yankees reacts after a fly out against the Kansas City Royals at Yankee Stadium. (May 10, 2011) Credit: Jim McIsaac
NEW YORK (AP) — Jorge Posada was a late scratch from the New York Yankees' lineup Saturday night after manager Joe Girardi initially dropped the slumping designated hitter to No. 9 in the batting order.
Andruw Jones replaced Posada at DH and was set to hit ninth against Boston Red Sox ace Josh Beckett. The Yankees did not say why Posada was pulled about 35 minutes before the scheduled first pitch.
Slumping all season in his new role as DH, Posada was batting .165 with six homers and 15 RBIs.
With the Yankees struggling to get big hits lately, Girardi said it was time to make a switch. He moved scuffling Nick Swisher down to eighth in the order and put Posada in the No. 9 hole.
The Yankees say the last time Posada hit ninth was exactly 12 years ago, on May 14, 1999, against the White Sox.
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