MLB

Ichiro, Gardner must produce for Yankees

TROUBLED: While Ichiro Suzuki broke his 0-for-22 skid with a single in the seventh inning, he and Brett Gardner (inset) must produce consistently with all the Yankees’ injuries, Kevin Kernan writes. (
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The Yankee Way used to be all about superstars. This year it’s all about team and overcoming an absurd amount of injuries. That means there is less room for error, everyone has to contribute.

In addition to the continuing onslaught of injuries, the Yankees have a bit of an outfield crisis on their hands.

Ichiro Suzuki is struggling and Brett Gardner is not at the top of his game. Despite the Yankees’ amazing success overcoming all kinds of issues, if they can’t find a way to get at least one of these two outfielders going, they are going to have major problems.

On a night Andy Pettitte left in the fifth inning due to a tight left trapezius muscle and catcher Chris Stewart had to leave with a groin injury, the Yankees came up 3-2 losers to the Mariners at Yankee Stadium, losing the series along the way.

Two more injuries in a season of incredible injuries.

Ichiro said he has never seen anything like this and he told The Post the only way to overcome all these injuries is to play with a winning passion like the Yankees have been doing all season.

“Even though we have had different guys come up and play, that passion of winning is special,’’ Ichiro said. “Different players will come up, but the passion that we have as an organization is not going to change.’’

Key hits don’t hurt either.

Ichiro broke an 0-for-22 skid with a seventh-inning single and scored the Yankees second run, but struck out with the potential tying run on second to end the eighth. Gardner went 1-for-5 with two strikeouts and has five hits over his last 28 at-bats. Gardner singled in the ninth with one out and stole second and third against closer Tom Wilhemsen but Jayson Nix struck out and Robinson Cano grounded to short to end the game.

The Yankees were 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position.

“I’ve been inconsistent but in my last at-bat I was able to stay down on a guy throwing power sinkers and that’s what I need to do,’’ Gardner said. “Sometimes it takes battling against a tough guy like that to get right.’’

Ichiro said he is not about to give in to any negative thoughts. That has never been his way. Ichiro, who came into the season a lifetime .322 hitter, is batting .239 with two home runs with only eight RBIs.

“The results and the way you feel up there are two different things,’’ said Ichiro, who insisted he is feeling confident and strong at the plate. “What you don’t want after the day is over is to think, ‘I should have done this.’ That’s what preparation is all about. You do everything you have to do to prepare yourself, get up there, and you have no regrets that way.’’

Curtis Granderson is showing promise coming back from a broken arm and that could push Vernon Wells over to right with Granderson in left. With DH Travis Hafner returning from a shoulder injury, Joe manager Girardi will not be able to stash one of his four outfielders at designated hitter.

Wells has been the Yankees most effective outfielder and last night even he had a difficult game going 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and a popup. He popped up in the seventh with two outs and the tying run at third.

The Yankees have pushed team over the individual and Girardi enjoys using all his players to get the most out of them, but this is getting ridiculous with all the injuries.

“When you have a team that is riddled with injuries there has to be an X-factor when it comes to still maintaining the excellence that is expected of this team,” Wells said. This organization and we have a group of guys who, first and foremost, are good people.’’

All that has enabled the Yankees to win and be in first place in the AL East, overcoming all the injury woes, but tougher times are coming and Ichiro and the other outfielders must produce.