Rodriguez out of Yankees lineup

Alex Rodriquez, in a 2-for-16 playoff slump, was not in the starting lineup for the New York Yankees' decisive Game 5 against the Baltimore Orioles Friday. Rodriguez has just two singles and has struck out nine times in the first four games of the best-of-five American League Divisional Series. He was lifted for a pinch-hitter each of the last two games. In the third game of the series, Raul Ibanez hit a ninth-inning home run while hitting for Rodriguez. Ibanez also hit a home run in the 12th inning of a 3-2 Yankees' win. Eric Chavez hit for Rodriguez in the 13th inning Thursday, lining out to end the game, which Baltimore won 2-1 to force a decisive fifth game. Chavez is to start Friday at third base while Ibanez was inserted as designated hitter. The Yankees also said Derek Jeter, suffering from a bone bruise in his foot, would play shortstop Friday. He was the designated hitter Thursday. The winner of Friday's Baltimore-New York game advances to the AL Championship Series against the Detroit Tigers, who eliminated the Oakland Athletics Thursday.