Swing and a whiff: A-Rod's struggles at plate hurting Yankees in series against Orioles

Alex Rodriguez carried the New York Yankees to the 2009 World Series title with an amazing power display. His more recent postseason memories all too often involve ending with a swing and a miss.

A-Rod struck out to end the Yankees' 3-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles in Game 2 of their division series Monday night, and calls to drop him from the No. 3 spot in the lineup and give Robinson Cano more at-bats have been rising with every empty flail of the bat.

There have been plenty of those: He is 1 for 9 against the upstart Orioles with five strikeouts.

He'll have the chance to turn things around Wednesday night when the best of five series tied 1-1 returns to New York for Game 3.