KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Manager Joe Girardi shook up the struggling New York Yankees' lineup before tonight's game against the Kansas City Royals.

Hideki Matsui started in right field for the first time since 2005, while Alex Rodriguez batted third. He had hit cleanup in the first nine games, and in 156 of the 158 games he started last year. Jorge Posada was in the cleanup spot.

"The different look is because of the left-hander, not because we're not hitting," Girardi said. "It's the first left-handed starter we've seen. It happens to coincide with the time we haven't been hitting."

The Royals started left-hander John Bale against the Yankees, who had scored two runs in 19 innings entering the game and with 25 runs this season had the second-lowest total in the AL.

New York was hitting .244 for the season, and was 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position in the first two games of the series against the Royals, both losses. On the season, the Yankees were 11-for-66 (.167) with runners in scoring position.

"It's a little bit different because (Jason) Giambi is not there, (Bobby) Abreu is not in there, (Derek) Jeter is not in there," Girardi said. "Part of that is a function of days off and part of that is a function of injuries, so our lineup is different. We've had some guys who have played a bunch of days in a row and we're facing a left-hander, so we'll get some of our right-handers out there."

Girardi said he was comfortable with Matsui in right, and Matsui said it was a matter of focus.

"Obviously, I'm not as used to right field, so I need to pay attention to things I'm not used to. I haven't had as much opportunity to play in the outfield as I have in the past, but it doesn't affect me because I've played out there so much in the past," Matsui said through an interpreter.

Morgan Ensberg, who started only one game at first base in 2007 with Houston and San Diego, was at first base in his first Yankees start.

"One of the reasons you bring in a guy like Ensberg is to play against left-handers," Girardi said. "If you're not going to play him against left-handers, why did we bring him? We're expecting Morgan to provide some punch against left-handers and play some first base for us."

Posada, who has a sore right shoulder and did not play Wednesday, was the designated hitter. He can swing the bat, but has problems throwing.

Robinson Cano, who hit .194 with one RBI in the first nine games, was dropped from sixth to seventh in the batting order.

"I've seen pretty good at-bats, not necessarily a lot of results for him," Girardi said. "We're talking about at any point he could go 4-for-4. That's how good his at-bats have been. He's hit some balls hard, he just hasn't had a lot of breaks."

The Yankees went nine games into the season without a stolen base for the first time since 1948, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. In 1948, they didn't have any until a double steal by Phil Rizzuto and Tommy Henrich in New York's 17th game.