For six games and counting now, the Yankees have done plenty of squandering.
They did it again last night, going 0-for-8 with men in scoring position as they got clobbered by the Mets, 11-2 in The Bronx.
The Yankees actually were hitless in the clutch in both games this weekend, going a combined 0-for-15, and in their last six games, they’re an incredible 4-for-40 in that category.
In those six games against the Rays and Mets, the Alex Rodriguez-less and Jorge Posada-less Bombers have gone 1-5.
Asked if hitters were pressing, Johnny Damon acknowledged, “Possibly.”
As for last night, Damon and his mates had a few chances with men in scoring position, but after some near-misses early, there was nothing late, period, late.
With two outs and nobody on in the first against Oliver Perez, Derek Jeter walked, then stole second. Hideki Matsui followed with a liner — but Carlos Delgado snared it. No success there.
None in the second inning either. With one out and Jason Giambi on second, the Yanks had two opportunities to bring him home. Melky Cabrera failed first, flying to right. Then Alberto Gonzalez missed out. To be fair, though, he lined out to right field as Ryan Church made a fine play.
Two innings later came two more opportunities. In the fourth with one out, Robinson Cano was hit by a pitch and stole second. But Cabrera – again – flied to right. After Cano went to third on a wild pitch, Gonzalez delivered (if you can call it delivering) an inning-ending pop-out.
In the fifth, the Yankees’ failure was the worst because it cost them a chance to get back in the game. Down 4-2, Jose Molina doubled to right. But Damon grounded out to first and Molina went to third. Still, neither Bobby Abreu nor Jeter could bring Molina home. Abreu struck out; Jeter flied to center.
The Yanks then had only two runners on base the rest of the night and neither moved off first.
For the year, the Yanks are at .238 with men in scoring position. But their current drought is at 0-for-16 and extends back to the seventh inning on Thursday.