Bombers bits

• Lyle Overbay was in the Yankees' original lineup on Friday but was scratched due to flu-like symptoms. He was replaced at first base by Mark Reynolds.

• Curtis Granderson made his eighth start of the season at designated hitter on Friday. Not wanting to disrupt Alfonso Soriano in left field, Girardi said that Granderson will continue to see time at DH because he seems to have responded to the role.

"You look at his numbers -- his numbers have been pretty good," Girardi said of Granderson, who entered play on Friday 9-for-23 (.391) with two doubles as a DH. "He seemed to handle it pretty well. We'll probably run with that for a while."

• Beginning on Friday, the Yankees have six straight games on artificial turf. Girardi said that Rodriguez may need at least one day off during the stretch.

• On this date in 1968, the Yankees played to a 3-3, 19-inning tie against the Tigers at Yankee Stadium in the second game of a doubleheader. It is tied for the third-longest game in franchise history and the longest without a winner and loser. Yanks hurler Lindy McDaniel pitched seven perfect innings of relief, striking out six.