ANAHEIM, Calif. -- One day after getting hit in the left shoulder blade with Troy Percival's fastball, New York Yankees second baseman Alfonso Soriano expects to start Game 3 of the AL division series.

	Soriano

"It's bruised a little bit, but it's OK,'' Soriano said before Thursday's workout. "I put a lot of ice on it last night.''

The Game 3 is Friday in a best-of-five series tied at one game apiece.

The pitch was Percival's first ever in a postseason game.

"He leaned right over the plate, so I was just trying to get in there to stand him up because he's too dangerous out over the plate,'' said Percival, who had not hit a batter during the regular season.

"I missed my spot, no doubt about it. But I don't think it was too much adrenaline. I came right back and put my next four pitches right in the zone,'' Percival said.