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Rodriguez joins Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera, Michael Pineda and Gardner as key pieces of the Yankees puzzle who have missed time with injuries.
Whatever the time-frame on Rodriguez, it's one more obstacle for the Yankees to overcome. They do have the luxury of a seven-game lead in the AL East, even with their recent West Coast slump.
"You find out how good you are. Other guys are going to have to step up. We can't feel sorry for ourselves because no one else is going to," Jeter said. "It's going to be a challenge, but it's been a challenge for all the injuries we've had this season."
Lost in the concern over Rodriguez was starter Freddy Garcia (4-4) looking more like the 2001 version that won 18 games with the Mariners and was an All-Star. Garcia struck out a season-high eight and retired the final 15 he faced before being pulled with one out in the eighth.
But Garcia was pitching from behind after the Yankees offense failed in getting to Hernandez in both the fourth and fifth innings when New York had runners in scoring position and couldn't get clutch hits. Teixeira added a sacrifice fly in the eighth, but reliever Lucas Luetge struck out Raul Ibanez with two on to end the threat.
That was all secondary to what the absence of Rodriguez will mean for the Yankees.
"We're going to have to change it around a little," manager Joe Girardi said. "He had been swinging the bat really good too. We've had to overcome some things so far, we're just going to have to continue to do it."
NOTES: Rodriguez recorded his 2,000th career strikeout when he went down swinging in the sixth inning on a changeup from Hernandez. ... Suzuki was hit by a pitch for the first time since July 20, 2010. ... Hernandez hit three batters in a game for the third time in his career.
[Associated
Press;
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