2B Cano helps Yankees off bench

Aug 3, 2008 - 10:50 PM BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- Second baseman Robinson Cano did not start for the second straight day due to a sore left hand, but still contributed to the New York Yankees' 14-9 victory over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Sunday.

After sitting out Saturday, Cano entered Sunday's game as a defensive replacement in the top of the eighth. In the bottom half, he delivered a two-run single in a six-run uprising as the Yankees erased a 9-8 deficit.

"We're going to give him one more day," New York manager Joe Girardi said prior to Sunday's contest. "Sometimes, you have to weigh the benefits. You don't necessarily want to leave him out of the lineup ever, but if it gets him back to being productive like he was before, it's worth it."

Cano, who had slumped offensively over his previous six games, suffered the injury last Sunday night while swinging at a pitch from Boston's Jon Lester. He tried to play through the injury, but was seen with his hand heavily taped in the Yankees' locker room prior to Saturday's contest the Angels.

Wilson Betemit replaced Cano, a career .303 hitter, at second base for the second straight day. Betemit contributed to Saturday's 8-2 win with two hits, including a two-run home run.

After batting just .217 over his first 67 games this season, Cano showed marked improvement at the plate, raising his average to .270 entering last Sunday's series finale at Fenway Park.

But the 25-year-old Cano went just 3-for-26 in six games before Sunday, prompting Girardi to replace him with Betemit on Saturday.

A former All-Star, Cano has appeared in 108 games this season, batting .262 with nine homers and 52 RBI.