Bronx, NY (My Sportsbook) - The New York Yankees made some surprising roster moves prior to Friday's 4-3 loss to the Kansas City Royals.

The franchise optioned outfielder Melky Cabrera to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes- Barre and designated first baseman Richie Sexson for assignment.

The struggling Cabrera had only three hits in his last 26 at-bats. For the season, the 24-year-old Dominican Republic native is batting .242 with eight homers and 36 RBI in 117 games.

New York signed the 33-year-old Sexson on July 18 after the Seattle Mariners released him eight days earlier. He went 7-for-28 with one homer and six RBI in 21 games.

To fill the roster spots, the club recalled utilityman Brett Gardner and purchased the contract of infielder Cody Ransom from Scranton.

Gardner went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in Friday's setback.

In other moves, the Yanks placed pitcher Dan Giese on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation and recalled pitcher Chris Britton from Scranton.

Giese was 1-3 with a 2.58 earned-run average in 38 1/3 innings over 15 appearances for New York in 2008.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi also announced that Darrell Rasner will start Tuesday at Toronto in Giese's place.

After the loss to the Royals, the Yankees stand at 64-58, good enough for third place in the AL East, languishing 10 1/2 games behind first-place Tampa Bay and seven behind the Red Sox in the Wild Card race.