New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez flips his bat after striking out during the sixth inning of a baseball game as Seattle Mariners catcher Chris Iannetta (33) walks toward the dugout Saturday, April 16, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) (Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.)
NEW YORK (AP) – Slumping Alex Rodriguez has been dropped three spots to sixth in the New York Yankees' batting order.
Looking to spark his struggling lineup, manager Joe Girardi made the move for Sunday's series finale against the Seattle Mariners as New York tried to stop a four-game losing streak.
The 40-year-old Rodriguez is hitless in his last 19 at-bats. A season after hitting 33 home runs, A-Rod is batting .100 (3 for 30) with one homer and two RBIs.
He is hardly the only Yankees hitter in a funk at the plate. New York was 0 for 24 with runners in scoring position during the first two games of the series, and 3 for 46 in those situations in its last five games overall.
Carlos Beltran, off to an excellent start, was moved up two spots to third. Scuffling third baseman Chase Headley was given a day off in favor of rookie Ronald Torreyes.
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