ANAHEIM, Calif. — The last four names in manager Joe Girardi’s lineup last night read this way:
Neal.
Adams.
Brignac.
Romine.
It was equal parts fatigue, Ichiro Suzuki’s ineffectiveness against the Angels’ lefty C.J. Wilson and Kevin Youkilis landing on the disabled list that led Girardi using players who answer to those non-descript names.
With Andy Pettitte on the mound the Yankees had a chance even though the lineup looked like one better suited for a Triple-A game.
Yet, as has been the case far too frequently the Yankees didn’t produce enough runs to avoid a 5-2 loss in front of 40,621 at Angel Stadium.
Having scored 16 runs in the last seven games and watching veterans, rookies and journeyman struggle at the plate Girardi refuses to abandon hope and is blind to the topic of his players pressing.
“I have a tough time knowing what pressing is,’’ Girardi said after the Yankees collected six singles and went 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position. “You keep fighting, that’s all. Every team goes through it.’’
Adding to the frustration for the Yankees was second baseman David Adams and shortstop Reid Brignac failing to catch a routine pop up in the seventh that led to an Angels run. Brett Gardner getting thrown out at third on a ground ball to short while he was on second in the fifth for the first out didn’t help.
“That’s my ball. I waived but I thought I heard [Brignac] call,’’ said Adams, whose two-out single scored two runs in the fourth against C.J. Wilson and gave the Yankees a short-lived 2-1 lead.
Adams mistake hurt when Mark Trumbo delivered a two-out RBI single.
As for Gardner, he also admitted to a mistake.
“I thought [Mark Teixeira] hit the ball harder, but it was a bad read,’’ Gardner said. “You don’t want to do anything foolish and give them an easy out.’’
It was the Yankees’ fourth straight loss, but it didn’t cost them ground in the AL East because the first-place Red Sox lost. The Yankees are three games back in third.
In order to go home with a .500 record on the 10-game West Coast trip that ends tomorrow the Yankees need to beat the Angels today and tomorrow.
Based on the way they haven’t hit asking for two consecutive victories from the Yankees might be expecting far too much out of starters David Phelps or CC Sabathia.
Matched against fellow lefty Wilson, Pettitte gave up solo runs in the first, fourth and fifth innings.
Pettitte, 41 today, allowed four runs and 11 hits in seven innings but felt he should have done better regardless of how limp the bats are.
“I feel good about our team. These guys are big league hitters. We are going to score runs. You can’t give up four runs, you are going to lose,’’ said Pettitte, who is 5-4.