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Girardi won't drop Judge in order despite strikeout problems

Shanna Lockwood / Reuters

When the starting lineup for Game 1 of the American League Championship Series was released by manager Joe Girardi on Friday, slugging rookie sensation Aaron Judge was in his usual No. 2 spot, and it doesn't appear he'll be going anywhere.

Despite struggling in the ALDS against the Cleveland Indians, striking out 16 times in 20 at-bats, Girardi said prior to Game 1 he has no intention of moving Judge down in the lineup.

"I never talked about moving him down," Girardi said, according to MLB.com's Bryan Hoch.

Judge's struggles in the batter's box were a major talking point during the division series against the Indians, and although the Yankees advanced, they'd like to get him back on track and out of the mental funk he's apparently in.

"He is getting pitched tough and gets frustrated when he doesn’t get good pitches to hit," Yankees hitting coach Alan Cockrell told Ken Davidoff of the New York Post when speaking about Judge. "It just kind of becomes a mental thing. Mechanically, I think he is OK.

"He has got to be ready to hit. He is going to get breaking balls, and he is going to get pitched hard in and soft away. When he gets a pitch to hit, he has to be in a good position and not miss it, especially this time of year."

Judge could prove to Girardi he's worthy of the No. 2 spot in the lineup with a good performance Friday against Astros starter Dallas Keuchel. He's hitless against the southpaw this season, going 0-for-3 with a strikeout.

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