TORONTO — The Dead Bat Society went international Saturday.
Less than 24 hours after scoring seven runs the Yankees were blanked 4-0 by R.A. Dickey and three Blue Jays relievers. The Yankees went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position after going 9-for-24 Friday night.
“We are struggling little bit,” manager Joe Girardi said after six of his club’s seven hits were singles. “We had opportunities and maybe the game is a little different, but that’s just part of the game.
“We get some guys going and we will put up some crooked numbers.’’
Through five games the Yankees are hitting .254 and haven’t homered in 169 at-bats.
“I believe we are going to hit one, I do,’’ Girardi said.
Alfonso Soriano isn’t the only frigid bat, but after going 0-for-4 Saturday he is hitless in 16 at-bats and has whiffed five times.
“I know who I am, I will be OK,’’ Soriano said. “We have plenty of time. There is nothing to worry about. I feel more comfortable every day.’’
David Phelps, pushed to the bullpen by Michael Pineda, has given up three homers in two appearances. Saturday he gave up homers to Melky Cabrera and Jose Bautista in the eighth inning that stretched the Blue Jays’ lead from 1-0 to 4-0.
“That’s not something I would really think of,’’ Girardi said when asked if Phelps, who has relief experience, was having trouble transitioning to the pen. “He has done it before, and he knows how to do it. Right now he is not throwing the ball the way he is capable of but he will.’’
Because he has no experience playing first base Austin Romine was a curious choice to replace Mark Teixeira (hamstring) on the roster Saturday when the first baseman went on the disabled list. That’s an indication the
Yankees are looking for somebody in the trade market who has played the position.
Kelly Johnson, who went 0-for-4, played first the last two games.
Though his stay could be brief, Romine said he was glad just to be on firm ground.
“I flew in from Syracuse and I thought I was going to die,’’ Romine said of the bumpy ride from where Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre was playing.
Romine said he was taking grounders at first, but “that was to get more at-bats down there.’’
The plan was for Brian Roberts to sit Friday night and play Saturday. Nevertheless, when he exited Friday night’s 7-3 victory, Girardi shuffled his infield in such a way he needed Roberts to play second base for seven innings. Thus, Girardi didn’t start the 36-year-old Roberts on Saturday.
Roberts did pinch hit for Dean Ana in the seventh he remained in the game at second.
“He played the whole game [Friday], and we have to smart with him,’’ Girardi said of the second baseman, who has been limited to 192 games in the previous four seasons because of injury. “I told you my concern about this initial stretch [13 consecutive games to open the season] is fatigue and guys pulling stuff.’’
Having worked in the previous two games Girardi said before Saturday’s game that he wouldn’t call for closer David Robertson and ask him to pitch in three straight this early in the season.
“It’s early, that’s kind of the way I do it,’’ Girardi said.
When Brendan Ryan was informed he wasn’t going to make it back from a neck problem for Opening Day and going on the DL, he was asked if he would be ready before May. Ryan was shocked at the timetable and insisted he would return sooner.
Nevertheless, May 1 is looking optimistic at this point for the reserve infielder.
“He is still not doing really much,’’ Girardi said, referring to Ryan, who is at the Yankees’ complex in Tampa, Fla. He hasn’t played in an exhibition game since March 4.