Brian Bruney turned to an obvious description of his troubles when all other words failed yesterday.
“I just [stink] right now, that’s all,” Bruney said after allowing a run on two hits and a walk over two-thirds of an inning in the Yankees’ 7-6 loss to the Blue Jays.
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The right-hander was summoned to replace Andy Pettitte after John McDonald had homered leading off the seventh and Marco Scutaro walked. Aaron Hill struck out against Bruney before Vernon Wells doubled and Scott Rolen followed with a two-run double. Kevin Millar walked later in the inning and David Robertson replaced Bruney.
“[Bruney’s] location is not quite as sharp as it was before,” manager Joe Girardi said. “He’s going through a difficult time right now. We’re going to get him right.”
Bruney was moved from eighth-inning duty to the seventh earlier on the homestand.
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“Sometimes you just struggle, I don’t know really how else to put it,” Bruney said.
“I’m just really frustrated right now. I have to figure out a way to fix it.”
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Jose Molina [quadriceps] was the designated hitter last night for Double-A Trenton, going 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout. He is scheduled to start at catcher tonight for the Thunder and will then be evaluated to perhaps join the Yankees in Minnesota.
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With an overflow of takers for yesterday’s $5 promotional senior-citizen ticket sale, the Yankees didn’t turn anybody away. According to a team spokesman, 170 seniors were placed in the $375 seats and only had to pay the original $5. . . . Mark Teixeira finished 0-for-5 and made it 84 straight at-bats without a home run. Teixeira finished the seven-game homestand with one RBI.