Football
Associated Press 17y

Yankees-White Sox game postponed due to rain

CHICAGO -- The White Sox and Yankees are looking for a
little punch. Some of their big hitters are in a funk at the same
time, and both teams were searching for solutions before their game
Tuesday night was rained out.

For New York, the slump list reads like this: Bobby Abreu was
1-for-19, Jason Giambi 0-for-18, Alex Rodriguez 2-for-17 and
Robinson Cano 9-for-63.

For Chicago, Paul Konerko's .194 average stood out in the center
of a White Sox lineup that included Jermaine Dye (.203), Joe Crede
(.205) and Tadahito Iguchi (.210).

And Chicago was also last in the AL in batting average, on-base
percentage, runs and batting with runners in scoring position.

"We have to start hitting," said catcher A.J. Pierzynski, who
at .239 was put in the No. 3 hole Tuesday night. "If we don't,
it's going to be a long year because the pitching, as good as it
has been, it can't keep doing this."

Yankees manager Joe Torre had dropped Abreu into the No. 7 spot
to try and shake his slump.

"He will hit. To me, he's going to go on one of these little
runs where he'll probably get two or three hits a game for a
week," Torre said. "I don't have any hesitation in saying that.
But he needs to get more comfortable."

Giambi took his search a step further, so to speak.

He went to an orthopedic specialist in Los Angeles on Monday to
get some new shoe inserts to alleviate the pain caused by a bone
spur in the heel.

"I've never really had a problem with the spur, up until
lately. I think my heel is inflamed because of everything that's
gone on," Giambi said.

And it is affecting his swing, especially for power.

"I'm just not getting that good push that I need on my back
foot to really drive through the ball," he said. "That's why I'm
not really driving the ball right now. But hopefully we'll get that
under control."

Tuesday night's game never started and was called about an hour
and 40 minutes after the scheduled first pitch. It will be made up
as part of a day-night doubleheader Wednesday starting at 2:05 p.m.
ET. The nightcap will begin at 8:11 p.m.

Scheduled starter Mike Mussina, who had gone into the outfield
while it was raining to play some catch Tuesday night, will pitch
the first game Wednesday for the Yankees against Chicago rookie
John Danks. The night game will feature the scheduled Wednesday
starters -- Chien-Ming Wang for New York and Jose Contreras for
Chicago.

It means both teams will have to do some juggling to find a
starter for their interleague matchups Sunday -- the Yankees play
the Mets and the White Sox are at the Cubs.

"What do you want me to say? I haven't even pitched this game
yet. Do you want me to be a GM? Do you think I can go on three
days' rest?" Mussina said Tuesday night.

The White Sox could bring back Danks or Contreras on three days'
rest Sunday or maybe let reliever Nick Masset start.

The Yankees return to U.S. Cellular Field for a four-game series
in June, but it was decided to play the makeup Wednesday instead of
when New York comes back next month.

There was announcement on the scoreboard Tuesday night that the
rain would probably stop around 10:30 and then the game was called
at about 9:50.

"We were going to play this thing. They weren't saying they
were calling it and all of a sudden they went and called it,"
Yankees manager Joe Torre said.

Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen said there was a possibility if
the wait had gone any longer the game could have been called at
11:30 or 12, which would not have been fair to either team.

So, it was called and the day-night doubleheader was scheduled.

"They have pretty good gates I guess and they don't want to
lose the games I guess and I don't blame them," Guillen said. "I
don't think most players mind. If they mind, they'd better be
prepared because they are going to be here for a long day."

^ Back to Top ^