This afternoon at Yankee Stadium, the New York Yankees host the Los Angeles Angels in their 2012 home opener. In order to improve offensive production, manager Joe Girardi has swapped Alex Rodriguez and Robinson Cano in the lineup, inserting Cano into the cleanup spot and moving Rodriguez to the 3-hole. Both Rodriguez and Cano are without a home run or RBI through six games this season. The rest of the lineup will look the same for the pinstripes.
Hiroki Kuroda will take the mound for New York, hoping to improve upon a forgettable debut, when he lasted 5 2/3 innings against Tampa Bay, allowing six runs (four earned). The Angels counter with right-hander Ervin Santana.In his last start, he went 5 2/3 innings against the Royals, allowing six runs (five earned).
The game will feature the return of Albert Pujols to the Bronx. He is a .286 career hitter at Yankee Stadium, with two homers and six RBI. This will be his first time facing the Yankees at the new stadium; however, he says he’s not thrilled. “I look at it as just another city, another stadium.”
First pitch is at 1:05 P.M Eastern.
