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Igawa, Rodriguez hope to help Yankees against Athletics

Apr 13, 2007 - 3:57 PM Ny Yankees (4-4) at Oakland (4-6) 10:05 pm EDT

OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- Kei Igawa was bailed out by Alex Rodriguez in his major league debut. He hopes he will not need the second time around.

Igawa makes his second career start Friday when the New York Yankees open a three-game series against the Oakland Athletics.

The Yankees posted a $26 million bid to win exclusive negotiating rights with Igawa (0-0, 12.60 ERA), who inked a five-year deal worth $20 million in December.

The Japanese lefthander struggled in his major league debut Saturday, yielding seven runs in five innings. But thanks to a game-winning grand slam by Rodriguez, New York rallied for a 10-7 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.

After struggling through a 2006 campaign marred by constant media and fan criticism, Rodriguez has started this season with a bang, batting .355 while leading the majors with six homers and 16 RBI over his first eight games.

Rodriguez hopes to continue hit hot hitting against the Athletics, who have lost four of their last six games, managing a total of just 11 runs over that stretch.

Despite scoring three first-inning runs Wednesday, Oakland sputtered to a 6-3 loss here to the Chicago White Sox. Mike Piazza ripped a two-run double in the contest and is batting a team-leading .350 this season.

The A's give the ball to Dan Haren (0-2, 0.69). Despite yielding only one combined earned run in his first two starts this season, Haren has been the victim of poor offense and sloppy defense this season. The A's have scored only one run for the righthander while committing three combined errors in his two outings.

Haren hopes for better support Friday in his first home start of the campaign. He went 5-7 with a 3.75 ERA in 16 outings here last season.