Scioscia switches things up for Angels’ second game
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With the Angels facing left-hander Jeff Francis on Friday, Manager Mike Scioscia made a few switches to his lineup, elevating switch-hitting shortstop Erick Aybar from sixth to first in the batting order, sitting switch-hitter Maicer Izturis and giving switch-hitter Alberto Callaspo his first start of the season at third base.
“Izzy is going to play tomorrow with the day game,” Scioscia said in reference to Izturis, who had hits in his final two at-bats in Thursday’s season opener. “I wanted to split it up a lilttle bit. I wanted to get his left-handed bat in there tomorrow.”
The Angels face right-hander Kyle Davies in Saturday’s afternoon game.
The lineups
Angels
SS -- Erick Aybar
2B -- Howie Kendrick
DH -- Bobby Abreu
RF -- Torii Hunter
LF -- Vernon Wells
3B -- Alberto Callaspo
1B -- Mark Trumbo
C -- Jeff Mathis
CF -- Peter Bourjos
P -- Dan Haren
Kansas City Royals
3B -- Mike Aviles
CF -- Melky Cabrera
LF -- Alex Gordon
DH -- Billy Butler
1B -- Kila Ka’aihue
RF -- Jeff Francoeur
SS -- Alcides Escobar
C -- Bryan Pena
2B -- Chris Getz
P -- Jeff Francis
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