Girardi bats Cano second for finale vs. Red Sox

NEW YORK -- As the Yankees search for their first victory of the young season, Robinson Cano will receive a chance to produce in the No. 2 spot of the lineup.

Manager Joe Girardi said that he bumped Cano up in the order because he wanted the right-handed Kevin Youkilis hitting third, a response to the lefty-heavy lineup the Yankees were fielding against Red Sox right-hander Ryan Dempster on Thursday.

"It's just to try to break up some of the left-handers that we have," Girardi said. "We have a substantial amount in our lineup without the switch-hitters -- Tex [Mark Teixeira], where you could put him in between.

"I decided to take a look at this. I thought about it yesterday, doing it yesterday, but we'll go with it one more day to see how it looks. It's just to try to not make it so easy on the other team."

Brett Gardner is leading off, followed by Cano, Youkilis and lefty Travis Hafner. The order goes righty-lefty from there, with Vernon Wells, Ichiro Suzuki, Eduardo Nunez, Lyle Overbay and Francisco Cervelli.

Cano did not bat second all of last year during the regular season, though Girardi did try him there in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series against the Tigers. He has started 70 big league games batting second, most recently in 2010.

Girardi said that the idea should not be considered an effort to shake up the lineup after losing the first two games of the season.

"I think it's way too early to do that," Girardi said. "It's two games; we scored four runs last night and had some opportunities in the first day. I think it's really too early to do that, but I just don't like having three lefties in a row."