Brett Gardner showed signs of emerging from a slump last night, but Travis Hafner’s struggles at the plate continued.
Hafner hit .318 with six homers and 18 RBIs in April, but after going 0-for-3 with three strikeouts in Tuesday night’s 3-1 loss to the Royals, he is at .217 with 12 homers and 37 RBIs for the year and in a 1-for-17 slide.
A right-shoulder problem forced Hafner to miss five games in mid-May, but manager Joe Girardi said Hafner hasn’t complained of discomfort in the hinge.
“He says it’s fine and he has not complained about it,’’ Girardi said. “Since we have had him, it’s always been a maintenance program, but he was complaining about it when he was hurt and he hasn’t been complaining.’’
Hafner said the shoulder problem may have altered his hitting mechanics but didn’t linger.
“Physically, I feel great,’’ he said. “I am struggling with inconsistency. This game is all about consistency, and I need to do a better job.’’
Girardi is confused as to why Hafner is struggling, but admits a depleted lineup could use a power boost from the left-handed hitting DH.
“It’s hard to put your finger on exactly why he is struggling,’’ said Girardi, who explained before the game he isn’t thinking about making a switch at DH against right-handed pitchers. “But he is [struggling] and we need him to hit. We need this guy to hit and we are doing everything we can do get him going.’’
As for Gardner, he collected two hits and broke a 0-for-16 slide. He didn’t add to his 80-strikeout total, which he said is due to chasing pitches out of the strike zone. He set a club record by striking out at least once in 16 straight games.
“I don’t see a lot of difference except that he isn’t getting hits,’’ Girardi said. “My guess he will get going.’’
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Robinson Cano’s first-inning single was the 1,558th career hit and tied him with Thurman Munson for 18th place on the club’s all-time hit list.
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David Robertson sincerely wants to win the fan vote for the final spot on the AL All-Star squad.
“I really want to go,’’ Robertson said of Tuesday’s game at Citi Field. “It’s in New York and [Mariano Rivera’s] last year.’’
As of yesterday, Robertson was second to Toronto reliever Steve Delabar.
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One night after not having Eduardo Nunez, Ichiro Suzuki, Lyle Overbay and Chris Stewart in the starting lineup against right-hander Jeremy Guthrie, Girardi had all them facing James Shields Tuesday night.
It didn’t do any good, because they went a combined 2-for-14.
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Austin Romine is hitting .132 (9-for-68) with 17 strikeouts in 32 games but, as usual, Girardi found a positive in the rookie catcher.
“I am very pleased with his defense,’’ Girardi said. “I do see better at-bats, and he works his rear end off.’’