Guerrero Out of Lineup for Game 2 of World Series

Oct. 28, 2010GIANTS PAGEGIANTS VIDEO

SANFRANCISCO (AP) Vladimir Guerrero was not in the Texas Rangers' startinglineup for Game 2 of the World Series, a move manager Ron Washingtoninsisted had nothing to do with two errors in the opener."It didn't play into it," Washingtonsaid before Thursday's game. "My main concern with Vlad is I'm tryingto keep his bat in the lineup."Guerrero, Texas' usual designated hitter, has to play in the field in the NL park. He was available off the bench for Game 2.Nelson Cruz was back in right fieldafter getting the start in left in Game 1. David Murphy started in leftfield for the Rangers.Both of Guerrero's errors came in theeighth inning of the Rangers' 11-7 loss, when he let a ball roll by himand misplayed a liner. San Francisco tacked on three runs before Texasscored three times in the top of the ninth."He might have missed a couple ofballs, but those balls he missed, and if they scored runs off of it,certainly didn't determine the outcome of the ballgame," Washingtonsaid. "It might have added some runs but it didn't determine theoutcome."Washington had indicated before the World Series that Guerrero might start only one of the first two games in San Francisco.It was only the second game in theoutfield for Guerrero since the start of September. While he has played1,608 games in the outfield over 15 major league seasons, he hasappeared in the field 20 times over the past two seasons.Guerrero played only two of his 100games in the outfield during an injury-plagued 2009 season with the LosAngeles Angels. He appeared in 152 regular-season games this year, 18of them in the outfield.Washington said he talked to Guerrero about his decision for Game 2, and the slugger understood what was happening."If we come back here for Games 6and 7, I'm going to play Guerrero a game here too," Washington said."We're here because of Vlad. So I'm supposed to play two games in SanFrancisco and not let him touch the field? It won't happen."