When they hit, they don’t pitch, when they pitch, they don’t hit (nevermind the fielding). The Yankees lost a heartbreaker, 2-1 yesterday. The Bombers had two men on with one out in the seventh, but came up empty when Minky hit into a double play. Alex Rodriguez came to the plate with two men on in the eighth and was blown away. Then in the ninth, JJ Putz struck out the side, despite giving up a one-out double to Hideki Matsui.

Johnny Damon told the Times:

“We need to start closing the gap real soon,” Damon said. “I think the next month is really important. We get Rocket back in about three weeks. When we get him back, we need to be within five. We can’t keep losing ground.

“Granted, if the Red Sox keep playing the way they are, nobody’s going to catch them. They’re playing at about a .750 clip. That’s pretty good, and they’ve been able to stay healthy. I think if we were a little healthier, we probably could be within three or four. But we haven’t swung the bats consistently enough or pitched consistently enough to merit that right now.”

Bobby Abreu drew his first walk in 61 at bats yesterday but is mired in a 2-22 skid, and is experiencing what is far and away, the worst slump of his career. According to the Daily News:

Joe Torre believes that the Yankees’ 17-19 record has made it more difficult for Abreu to find a groove, as he is trying to right himself and spark his team at the same time.

“It’s the pride factor and the responsibility factor; his biggest problem right now in his mind is letting people down,” Torre said. “I think he’d have an easier time snapping out of this thing if we had been winning a lot more.”

The Yankees have the day off today and then play three in the Windy City before heading to Shea to play the Mets this weekend. Joe Torre, however, has returned to New York to be with his ailing brother, Frank.