Stairs to DH in Game 2

The Phillies hope to take the “Stairs” to Game 2 glory.

Matt Stairs will serve as the designated hitter and bat seventh against Yankees right-hander A.J. Burnett Thursday night. Raul Ibanez, who DHed in Game 1 will move back to his normal spot in left field.

The moves by manager Charlie Manuel give the Phillies more left-handed pop to try and launch a ball over the short porch in right field of Yankee Stadium.

It also helps that Stairs has two homers in 11 career at-bats against Burnett.

Greg Dobbs was also an option to DH but he wasn’t really an option because he has the flu, said Manuel.

He was actually sent back to Philly so he wouldn't be available to pinch hit Thursday.

The Yanks also made some moves to try and kick-start their struggling offense.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi benched slumping outfielder Nick Swisher and again put Jose Molina behind the plate to catch Burnett.

Swisher went 0 for 3 in New York's 6-1 loss in the World Series opener. He was batting only .114, with no homers and 12 strikeouts in the postseason.

Molina replaced Jorge Posada behind the plate. Molina has caught each of Burnett's starts in the playoffs.

Jerry Hairston Jr. replaced Swisher in right and was batting seventh. Hairston is 10 for 27 in his career against Phillies starter Pedro Martinez, but hasn't faced him since 2004. It also was Hairston's first start in right since July 21.

“He's had a lot of success off of Pedro,” Girardi said. “We also like the way they kind of match up against each other, and that kind of shows up in the numbers.”

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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