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Yankees-Marlins Preview

Jun 21, 2009 - 4:13 AM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

New York (38-29) at Florida (33-36), 5:05 p.m. EDT

Alex Rodriguez has accomplished plenty since he came up to the major leagues as a 18-year-old in 1994, including winning three MVP awards. He still hasn't started in a game in Miami, however, and the circumstances for his first start in his hometown aren't exactly ideal for the slugger.

Rodriguez is expected to return to the lineup Sunday after a two-day break for the New York Yankees when they finish their three-game series against the Florida Marlins.

New York (38-30) decided to bench Rodriguez for two games starting Friday for what he and the team called "fatigue." Rodriguez is batting .145 (8 for 55) in June. He's in an 0-for-15 slump and is hitting .212 with nine homers and 26 RBIs overall.

The third baseman should be back in the lineup Sunday. He drew a walk as a pinch-hitter in Saturday's 2-1 loss, receiving a big ovation when he was introduced.

Rodriguez said he had reserved about 100 tickets for family and friends, including his mother, for Friday's game before he learned he was benched. He also said his fatigue was not related specifically to his surgically repaired hip that caused him to miss the first month of the season.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Saturday that Rodriguez will be rested in the future from time to time because of the surgery.

"I'm hoping he'll tell us which day he needs when he needs it," Girardi told the Yankees' official Web site. "If not, I'll just have to make him take a day."

Ace CC Sabathia (6-4, 3.67 ERA), meanwhile, looks to continue his success against NL foes when he takes on the Marlins (34-36) - the only team in the majors he has never faced.

Sabathia went 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA in 17 starts with Milwaukee last year, and is 15-2 with a 1.95 ERA in his last 23 outings versus NL clubs.

The left-hander improved to 11-3 with a 3.62 ERA in his last 23 interleague starts Tuesday by allowing three runs over 7 2-3 innings in a 5-3 win over Washington.

Sabathia will also be in the lineup for the first time this year. He's a career .261 hitter with three homers, 13 RBIs and 22 strikeouts in 88 at-bats.

"It is important to try and take it seriously," Sabathia said. "You can get some runners in scoring position or get some guys over. It is all fun, but we're definitely out there to try and help the team."

New York lost for the third time in four games Saturday as Florida starter Josh Johnson allowed one run over seven innings. Dan Uggla homered and Hanley Ramirez scored on an error for the Marlins' runs.

The Yankees will go up against a starter they have never faced for the sixth straight game Sunday when they get their first look at Chris Volstad (4-7, 4.75), who has posted a 7.66 ERA in losing four straight starts.

Volstad made his first career interleague start Tuesday at Boston and was tagged for eight runs over a season-low 3 2-3 innings in an 8-2 loss.

The 22-year-old right-hander had lasted at least five innings in his previous 10 starts.