Justice slugged his game-turning home run against Arthur Rhodes, a tough left-handed reliever.
Collins said he might have given Wright Friday's game off, but the Mets were facing Ricky Romero, a tough left-hander.
Even from July on, when the Yankees had the majors' best record, at 56-28, Torre would rest Abreu against most tough left-handers.
Torre has rested Ventura five times this season against left-handed starters, but when a tough left-hander comes on in relief, Torre lets Ventura hit.
The Philadelphia Phillies would be starting a tough left-hander, Omar Daal, and with the way Ventura had been hitting, he doubted he would play.
Perez, who provided a spark from the leadoff spot in Game 2, gained the start even though the Mets were facing a tough left-hander.
But the Rays cannot afford to limit Moore to a few choice innings, any more than the Yankees would hold back C.C. Sabathia to make sure they could get out tough left-handers in the eighth inning.
He homered and drove in both runs in Tuesday's 3-2 loss, then delivered the hit that broke open a scoreless game against reliever Paco Rodriguez, who is a tough left-hander but not as tough as Kershaw.
The bill of his cap pulled down tight over his forehead, he sometimes resembled a miniature version of another tough left-handed pitcher from Texas, the Yankees' Andy Pettitte.
Torre has been more inclined in the past few weeks to platoon in certain situations with O'Neill, removing him for a pinch-hitter when a tough left-handed reliever comes into the game.
