Baseball Notes: Swisher benched for game 2 of Series

Swisher benched

NEW YORK - Yankees manager Joe Girardi benched slumping outfielder Nick Swisher for Game 2 of the World Series last night and again put Jose Molina behind the plate to catch A.J. Burnett.

Philadelphia also had a different lineup. Raul Ibanez moved from designated hitter to left field and Matt Stairs was the DH.

Jerry Hairston Jr. replaced Swisher in right and was batting seventh. Hairston is 10 for 27 in his career against Phillies starter Pedro Martinez, but hasn't faced him since 2004.

• Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter has won the Roberto Clemente Award. The award is given annually to a major league player who combines community service with excellence on the field.

• Television ratings for the World Series are up.

The Philadelphia Phillies' 6-1 win in Game 1 on Wednesday earned an 11.9 fast national rating and 19 share. That's up 29 percent from the opener last year, when the Phillies-Rays series drew record-low ratings.

Fox said it's the second-best Game 1 rating this decade, trailing only Red Sox-Cardinals in 2004. It's also the best rating for a non-decisive World Series matchup since Game 3 that year.

ORIOLES: Baltimore declined its $8 million option on Melvin Mora, allowing Baltimore's longest-tenured player to become eligible for free agency.

Mora, 37, came to the Orioles in a 2000 trade with the New York Mets. He played 1,256 games for Baltimore, including 807 at third base - the second-most in franchise history behind Brooks Robinson.

Mora's best season was 2004, when he hit .340 with 27 homers and 104 RBI. He receives a $1 million buyout.

RAYS: Management says it is holding the line, and in some cases, dropping the price on nearly 40 percent of tickets for next season's games at Tropicana Field.

Prices range from $8 to $175, depending on seat location, the opponent and day of the week.