BOSTON — The challenge is clear: Can the Yankees continue to carve tomorrow from a tombstone?
Their worn-out bullpen cannot stop the beast that is the Boston Red Sox. Jarrod Saltalamacchia’s grand slam off Preston Claiborne in the seventh inning Friday night lifted the Red Sox to an 8-4 victory over the Yankees at Fenway Park. The Yankees had climbed back to tie the score at 4-4 in the top of the seventh after a 4-0 first-inning deficit — a deficit created by the struggling Hiroki Kuroda.
Kuroda admitted in that first inning he was “overcautious.’’
The Yankees cannot be overcautious at this stage of the game — they have come too far for that. The loss dropped the Yankees two games back of the Rays in the wild-card race and set up a huge game Saturday for CC Sabathia against Jon Lester. The Yankees have lost four of their last five against the mashing Red Sox.
Once again, the Yankees have to get back up off the canvas, something they have done time and again.
“Everybody has been counting us out and we’re not used to being in that position,” Sabathia said. “It’s awesome being the team that refuses to die.’’
With nine of their final 12 games against last-place teams, the Yankees cannot let the Red Sox sweep them this weekend. The bullpen is running on fumes, but they must find a way to get outs.
“We’ve had to use our bullpen a lot lately,’’ manager Joe Girardi admitted. “Some nights we’re a little limited.’’
Friday was one of those nights.
Here is the bottom line: The Yankees insist they have not come this far to miss out on October baseball. Yankees pride has kicked in, and they are relishing in the fact they continue to stand tall despite injury after injury. Some nights they’re more limited and some injuries hurt more than others. Leadoff hitter Brett Gardner is the latest casualty, likely out for the rest of the regular season with an oblique strain, and his loss was significant when Curtis Granderson batted leadoff and was 0-for-5. In the seventh, Granderson was called out on a checked swing, and Robinson Cano followed two batters later with a bases-loaded double. That hit should have scored three runs, but Alex Rodriguez, limited by his hamstring injury, could not score from first.
Here is what the Yankees have found out about themselves through this longest of seasons — they’re closer than they thought they were as teammates. Hard times can be good times.
“When everybody is rooting against you, it brings you closer together,’’ Sabathia said. “This team has really good chemistry. It’s one of the best chemistry teams I have ever been on. You have to have that chip on your shoulder to be good.’’
That chip needs to stay with them to get to October. As a team, the Yankees have learned to live in the moment. They are not worried about the future , what 2014 might bring. Picking up a big bat like Alfonso Soriano has shown them holes can be plugged.
A tired bullpen, though, can be obliterated by the Red Sox, who seek out and destroy strikes. What advice does A-Rod have for the Yankees’ young and not rested relievers?
“They’re doing the best they can,’’ he said. “This is a team that’s hard to measure yourself against right now because they are finding all types of ways to win games. But our guys are going to be fine.’’
Finish the job is the team’s mantra now. Don’t miss out on the postseason after battling back.
“Everything that we’ve been through this year, the adversity and all that stuff, being in the position we are is amazing, but we want to finish it up,’’ Sabathia said.
To do that, they must play better against the Red Sox and Sabathia has to come up big Saturday. The Yankees cannot afford to lose that game and then be swept away here.
The Yankees must carve tomorrow from that tombstone once again.