The Yankees pried Johnny Damon away from arch-rival Boston as much to create havoc as a leadoff hitter as to man center field. And while his work in the outfield has been good, his impact on the bases had been quiet – that is, until last night.
On a night when the Yankees’ base-running was a big part of the story – both good and bad – Damon tied a career-high with three steals in last night’s 4-2 loss to Tampa Bay.
Considering he had just a quiet two steals on the season coming into last night, it was an impressive display.
After posting six straight seasons of 26 or more steals, Damon had just 19 and 18 the past two years. But he appears back at his efficient best, riding a streak of 19 straight that is the longest active one in the majors. Last night’s total matched a single-game career-high, achieved only once, on April 26, 2000 against the Devil Rays.
After going hitless in a two-game series in Toronto, Damon has hit in his last five, with five runs scored. The 32-year-old led off last night with a walk and stole second, but the Yanks went down in order.
But when he got another chance in the fifth, they didn’t strand him.
He led off the inning by beating out an infield hit to second, with pitcher Seth McClung hesitating just a fraction of a second too long to cover first, and then missing the bag as Damon beat out the play. He stole second again, and this time Gary Sheffield crushing a 1-0 pitch out to left to knot the score at 2-all.
With two on and nobody out the next inning, he laid down a sacrifice bunt that moved Bubba Crosby to second and Robinson Cano to third. But they squandered the opportunity, as Derek Jeter hit into a bizarre inning-ending double-play, with Crosby inexplicably pulling up between the bases and getting tagged out by shortstop Tomas Perez.
Damon was just as good in the field, with two of his three put-outs of the spectacular variety, a great play on Josh Paul in the fourth inning, and a catch crashing into the wall to rob DH Jonny Gomes in the sixth.
With one on and one out in the tense eighth, Damon reached on a fielder’s choice. He stole second on a close play to move into scoring position with two out. But once again, the Bombers stranded him, Sheffield hitting into a 5-4 fielder’s choice.