Girardi tweaks lineup, has Gardner hit 1st

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. (AP) - New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi has tweaked his lineup.

Girardi moved Brett Gardner from ninth to leadoff and dropped Derek Jeter from first to second for Thursday night's game against Tampa Bay.

The change was made in part because regular No. 2 hitter Curtis Granderson, who was hit in the back by a pitch and fouled a ball off his right calf in Wednesday night's 4-0 win over the Rays, was being rested. New York is playing without cleanup hitter Alex Rodriguez. He is on the disabled list after undergoing right knee surgery on July 11.

Girardi didn't rule out using Gardner at the top of the lineup on a regular basis against right-handed starters. Also under consideration is having Granderson batting third at times.

The normal three-hole hitter is Mark Teixeira, who along with Robinson Cano would hit either fourth or fifth in a revised lineup.

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