Cabrera replaced by Pena on Yankees roster

Nov 2, 10:12 pm EST

PHILADELPHIA (AP)—Injured center fielder Melky Cabrera(notes) was replaced by backup infielder Ramiro Pena(notes) on the New York Yankees’ World Series roster Monday.

Cabrera left the Yankees’ 7-4 win in Game 4 on Sunday night in the middle of the sixth inning with a slightly strained left hamstring. He took an awkward swing and appeared to hurt his leg while running out a grounder.

Brett Gardner(notes), who took over for Cabrera on Sunday night, got his first postseason start in Game 5 on Monday night. He entered 2 for 5 with three runs and two caught stealings in the postseason.

Gardner was shaken up in the fifth inning after crashing into the fence in left-center while making a terrific catch of Jayson Werth’s(notes) leadoff drive.

The speedy Gardner sprinted to the 387-foot sign and his back slammed into the wall, but he hung onto the ball. He rolled over on the warning track and took a minute to catch his breath.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi and assistant athletic trainer Steve Donohue came out to check on Gardner, but he stayed in the game.

One win from its 27th championship and first since 2000, New York went into the game with a 3-1 lead in the Series.

Pena, picked over pinch-runner Freddy Guzman(notes) and No. 3 catcher Francisco Cervelli(notes), had not appeared in a game since the regular-season finale on Oct. 4. He had been working out at the team’s complex in Tampa, Fla., to stay fresh in case the Yankees needed him.

“I was ready for anything and to be honest I really don’t feel very nervous,” Pena said. “If they need me to play, I’ll be OK.”

Once Major League Baseball approved the substitution, Pena said he found out for sure he would be added to the roster when he arrived at the ballpark Monday.

“You never know when you’re going to get a call. Unfortunately, Melky got injured and I have the chance to be part of the roster,” he said.

A smooth fielder, Pena hit .287 with a homer and 10 RBIs in 115 at-bats for the Yankees this season.

Cabrera, ineligible for the rest of the Series, batted .274 with 13 homers and 68 RBIs this season. He delivered some notable clutch hits, too.

The switch-hitter batted .271 in the postseason with four RBIs. He went 2 for 13 (.154) in the World Series.

Updated Nov 2, 10:12 pm EST
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61 Comments

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  1. Silent O
    61. Posted by Silent O Tue Nov 3 5:33pm EST

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    You all can say whatever you want about Girardi's moves and the lack of offense/pitching during game 5. The fact is this; the Yankees were supposed to lose game 5 in order to take it abck home and win # 27 in a more dramatic fashion. Makes sense from a team owner point of view. The longer the series lasts, the more money everyone makes.
    Yankees will win it all... it is inevitable. Go Yankees!!!!
  2. Anthony C
    60. Posted by Anthony C Tue Nov 3 3:36pm EST

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    robert p...arods bat has been all but silent..same for damon.
  3. <i>cyberyank00</i>
    59. Posted by cyberyank00 Tue Nov 3 3:14pm EST

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    look for pedro to get rocked early and the bombers to explode offensively.
  4. <i>cyberyank00</i>
    58. Posted by cyberyank00 Tue Nov 3 3:12pm EST

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    girardi is a meat head. starting flaky burnett on three days rest with a 3-1 series lead was pure stupidity. not only does burnett have confidence problems on the road, his man need for molina behind the plate robs the team of posada at a time when cabrera is hurt and they are in a national league park.
    the talent has bailed girardi out all season hopefully it can again.
  5. robert p
    57. Posted by robert p Tue Nov 3 1:54pm EST

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    John p, Do you really believe that n.y. bats come alive and have a big lead ????? The bats have been very silient lately Cano, Mark T. Posada not one player except Jeter has hit the way thay did this season. I am glad to see Milky Cabrara go. He looked completely lost.
  6. robert p
    56. Posted by robert p Tue Nov 3 1:31pm EST

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    The Yankee Brass are playing scared. IT is as though they do not believe in the very players that got them this far. All this sending pitches out on three days rest is going to backfire on them. They will cause the very thing they fear most, to happen. And that is to loose the series. If they were smart they would have sent Chad Gudden out to pitch Sunday night. Charlie Manual is a much smarter manager then Girardi will ever be, Though I feel the decission to start all this pitching crap came from Little Bobby Cashman and company. It is not something Girardi would have dreamed up on his own. Now what? A repeat from a screwed up Andy P. I hope some one will disconnect the Panic Button and do the smart thing. Do What Got Us Here And Believe. Good news about R. Pena Bob
  7. john p
    55. Posted by john p Tue Nov 3 1:31pm EST

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    I do not understand not pinch running for matsui in the 9th inning- i am not suggesting that would have turned the game around- girardi could have hit and run and perhaps avoided a double play- in fact if he had hit and run and jeter hits the same pitch in the same spot it might have gone through with the ss covering 2nd base-
    he learned from joe torre and manages like him- he manages from weakness not strength he appears to be unsure and frightened - if the yankees do come up short - he will be blamed and hopefully he will be replaced - it is diffiucult to rely on a 3 man rotation througout the playoffs - the pitchers are human and tire - in gane 6 a small yankee lead in the 8th - do you go with moe for 2 innings or not? if you lose - you may not have him for game 7 - best approach - petitie pitches a good game and ny bats come aliv e and have a huge lead- takes the pressure off- it will be interesting -
    if philadelphia wins game 6 - they will win game 7 - 2004 repeats itself- there are no excuses if they do not win - they need to regroup and get better starting pitchers

    we will see

    \
  8. danny
    54. Posted by danny Tue Nov 3 1:22pm EST

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    Nice catch brett garner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
  9. frankie
    52. Posted by frankie Tue Nov 3 11:43am EST

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    notice how utley is always posing, he thinks he is a movie star, far from it, he'll be bald by 2011 i mean skin head, he is so stuck on himself...it is sickening to watch
  10. BILLYGOAT
    51. Posted by BILLYGOAT Tue Nov 3 11:09am EST

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    hey WALTER G and your the arsehole in the middle of both
  11. TJO
    50. Posted by TJO Tue Nov 3 9:49am EST

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    What is the rule in the WS, can you only replace a guy's roster spot if they are injured?
  12. Hammer
    49. Posted by Hammer Tue Nov 3 8:43am EST

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    What a scumbag Cabrera is. Nice chicken dance in the dugout. He doesn't move that much in the outfield. Did anyone tell the @#$% he's been benched? Absolute Joke!

    One bat and one game at a time Fightens!

    Go Phillies, Go Philadelphia!
  13. Walter G
    48. Posted by Walter G Tue Nov 3 4:16am EST

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    NYC and Philadelphia are the butt crack of the USA
  14. <i>crowx27</i>
    47. Posted by crowx27 Mon Nov 2 10:50pm EST

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    honestly, these posts are just so juvenile-- is this really why al gore invented the web, so somebody can say: 'yankees are tha best team c.c sabathia is tha best pitcher ever'. it's just so stupid. you see better stuff in the bathroom stall every day. just stop it, you retards.
  15. Victoria
    46. Posted by Victoria Mon Nov 2 10:30pm EST

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    thought Gardner is on tonight who just caught that ball.....
  16. david
    45. Posted by david Mon Nov 2 9:47pm EST

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    yankees are tha best team c.c sabathia is tha best pitcher ever
  17. Becka
    44. Posted by Becka Mon Nov 2 8:50pm EST

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    Come on , Philly ... I'm so freakin' SICK of the freakin" Yankees ...
    Go out there , and Kick their collective Butts !! Don't throw a- rod a fastball, just curves... Walk him Everytime... Make the rest of the team beat you ... Ask Manny ... It worked against him ...
  18. FELIX
    43. Posted by FELIX Mon Nov 2 8:21pm EST

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    how bout dem cowboys we're back
  19. Jake
    42. Posted by Jake Mon Nov 2 8:14pm EST

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    Cool article. My buddy made a poll for people to vote who they think will win the World Series so you can see what other people think. Vote now for the Yankees or Phillies at http://www.dipoll.com/?p=591
  20. <i>im_bg</i>
    41. Posted by im_bg Mon Nov 2 8:13pm EST

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    The only guy on their roster that has any class at all is Jeter; the rest of them are a bunch of mercenaries, plain and simple.
    ******
    Mariano Rivera would take a cr*p in your big mouth, but he has too much class and you're not worth his time.
  21. JC
    40. Posted by JC Mon Nov 2 8:12pm EST

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    Hey dstones you spell moron like this .....

    LOL
    So who is the real moron? Learn to spell before you crank the old pie-whole open you Richard Cranium! hee, hee
  22. Jason
    39. Posted by Jason Mon Nov 2 8:06pm EST

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    Go Detroit Tigers !
  23. Ricky
    38. Posted by Ricky Mon Nov 2 8:01pm EST

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    choke?
  24. JohnnyBlue
    37. Posted by JohnnyBlue Mon Nov 2 7:53pm EST

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    Larry, the Bosox have no business talking about mercs. Enjoy the celebration tonite bro. Sit back, relax and watch the champaign flow. Come down to the parade if u like.
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