After being shut out just six times all of last season, getting blanked for the seventh time already this year underscores just how bad the Yankees offense has become. They got only a single runner to second base yesterday, when Jayson Nix walked and stole second in the fourth inning.
“I think we get into trying to do too much and it just snowballs a bit,’’ Lyle Overbay said.
Derek Holland had been 0-5 with an 8.85 lifetime ERA against the Yankees, but yesterday the Bombers were shut out for the third time this month. It was the fourth time they’d been shut out at home this season, already the most since 2008.
“We’re struggling right now. [Holland’s] fastball and slider were pretty effective today, but he was ahead of our guys all day and seemed to pound the strike zone,’’ said Joe Girardi.
Asked if his lineup can hit without major additions, Girardi said “If you don’t score runs, that becomes an issue. But I believe we’re capable of scoring runs. I think we can, but time will tell.’’
➤ When Girardi was asked about Alex Rodriguez and the report in yesterday’s Post A-Rod was concerned about his health, he said, “Everything that I understand is that he’s been making progress, has moved better day-after-day. So it sounds like things are pretty good. … I’ve heard [directly from him], yeah, and our people obviously that are working him out say he has moved better each day.’’
➤ The Yanks got an odd break in the third inning. David Murphy hit a leadoff single, and tried to steal second on a full-count pitch to Jurickson Profar. The rookie walked as catcher Austin Romine threw to second. Murphy meandered off the bag, assuming he was out. After Jayson Nix’s tag, Murphy was ruled out because he had left the bag.
“Weird,’’ Nix said. “We kind of got tangled up a bit and he went out farther than he normally would. He slid in, got caught on my glove and it took him past the bag. It was a weird play, not something I think I’ve ever seen before.’’
brian.lewis@nypost.com