PHILADELPHA — Derek Jeter occasionally wears postseason goat horns, too.
Last night the Yankees captain had a chance to embellish his November legacy — he is, after all, the original Mr. November — but couldn’t produce in the ninth inning. Jeter hit into a double play, all but killing the Yankees’ comeback hopes in their 8-6 loss to the Phillies in Game 5 of the World Series.
The Yankees had runners on first and third with no out after Jorge Posada doubled and Hideki Matsui ripped a pinch-hit RBI single off Ryan Madson. Jeter worked ahead in the count before hitting into a 6-4-3 double play.
This certainly wasn’t what the Yankees expected from a clutch performer.
“We felt pretty good about [the ninth inning], especially with the captain coming up there,” Johnny Damon said. “Unfortunately he didn’t get it done, but I’ll take him in that spot any time. He’s the best postseason hitter of all-time, so I’d bet on him any day.”
Making the double play more excruciating for the Yankees was the fact Damon followed with a single, bringing Mark Teixeira to the plate as the tying run. Madson then struck out Teixeira to end the game.
Jeter refused to dwell on the missed opportunity.
“You can’t do anything about it now,” he said. “It’s over with. [Madson] made a good pitch. That’s the bottom line. I would have loved to get a hit there, but it’s over.”
Jeter said he thought the Yankees could pull off a comeback victory, but also admitted that falling into an 8-2 hole with two innings remaining isn’t a recipe for success.