Damon’s blunder costs Yankees opener

3 comments

August 19, 10:34 PM

by Pete Sabatini, New York Yankees Examiner

 

 

Darrell Rasner and AJ Burnett matched each other pitch for pitch shutting down the others’ offense in a heart-breaking 2-1 Yankees loss to the Toronto Blue Jays Tuesday night.

The Bombers scored their only run on Burnett quickly in the first on a Bobby Abreu double -- his 81^st RBI of the season. It was a good start that could not continue.

The night Johnny Damon took over at center field to make way for Hideki Matsui’s return to the lineup in the DH spot turned into Damon’s nightmare.

The problems started in the bottom of the first with one out when he dropped a liner to left center that allowed runners to reach first and third.

To Damon's relief, Rasner was unaffected by the baserunners and closed out the inning stranding both men. Rasner then continued his surprising dominance into the seventh inning until he made a mistake to Adam Lind who took advantage with a solo home run to tie the game for the Jays.

The straw that broke the Yankees’ back came in the 8^th inning as Damon made his second blunder, dropping a fly at the wall. This one cost the go-ahead run creating a two-out double for Toronto that put them ahead for good.

Michael Kay added, “When he’s solid he taps his glove and he never tapped his glove." I don’t care if he taps his glove, touches his glove to his chin, or takes a turn with the gold thong; he has to come up with those plays in center.

I know you want his bat in the lineup and I know that the second fly wasn’t scored an error – but it was. He cost the game, went 0 for 3 and is 1 for his last 17.

AJ Burnett was lights out, as was Rasner.  But the difference is that Rasner’s great start was wasted.

When Pudge misses what should have been an extra base on his steal in the fifth inning and A-Rod gets thrown out being overaggressive stretching a bloop single in the ninth after Damon’s sorry showing, there are no excuses.

Damon’s was the only one that cost a run and thus the game, but you don’t make up an 11-game deficit making any of these mistakes, let alone all of them.

If it’s any consolation, Damon did look to be on the verge of frustrated tears in the postgame interview from the locker room. He had no excuses, just repeated use of “unacceptable” and admission that he earned two errors in an “awful” performance.

I do love that Michael Kay looks visibly upset when the Yankees lose like this. He can’t let it show as much as I’m sure he would like, but I get the feeling that once the camera’s off he has Al Leiter hold an A-Rod mask to his face while Kay spews profanity that would make Quentin Tarantino blush.

Four strikeouts for Giambi and three for A-Rod – let’s hope tomorrow’s a new day.

Saturday’s Mystery Starter
Manager Joe Girardi said he will announce Thursday whether RHP Carl Pavano or RHP Phil Hughes will start against the Orioles on Saturday.

Score: 1-2 Blue Jays, (Box Score)

Next Game: @Blue Jays Wed 7:07PM on YES, Pettitte (12-9) v. Purcey (2-3)

Current Record: 66-59, 11GB Division, 6GB Wildcard

(Photo: AP)

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