Kawasaki gets rare start at second base

MINNEAPOLIS -- Blue Jays infielder Munenori Kawasaki got a rare start at second base on Saturday night, as the club decided to give rookie Ryan Goins a day off.

Manager John Gibbons used the opportunity to find some playing time for one of the Blue Jays' fan favorites, who hit second. Kawasaki had been used off the bench in recent games, but he hadn't been inserted into the starting lineup since Aug. 22 in Houston.

"He has done well -- wanted to get him in there so he doesn't get too stale," Gibbons said. "The other guys we have in there, we'd like to just sub him out for Goins, leave the other guys [in same spots]."

Kawasaki entered play on Saturday hitting .219 with a .316 on-base percentage in 81 games. He was originally expected to be the everyday second baseman following an injury to Maicer Izturis, but Goins won the job with a hot start to his big league career.