The Yankees don't have the luxury of many nights like this one.
The offense can't afford to go cold because the team can't expect its pitchers to make opponents do the same as often as they'd like this season. And when the Yankees get the type of pitching they did Monday night, they need to win the game.
They did not do that because Scott Feldman shut the Yankees down in Texas' 2-1 win. The Yankees wasted the excellent effort of Mike Mussina -- not to mention a start from one of their big three pitchers.
"It's unfortunate," manager Joe Girardi said, "because Moose pitched his heart out and we just didn't get him any runs."
It marked the second consecutive game in which the Yankees managed just four hits and one run.
In a season in which the Yankees' playoff chances are as precarious as they've been in recent years, mostly due to a patched-together pitching staff, they don't have much margin for error.
They lost one they should have won Monday night, and they simply can't afford to do that too often.
RANGERS 2, YANKEES 1: Scott Feldman outdueled Mike Mussina and the Yankees offense struggled again. Feldman limited the Yankees to one run in 5 2/3 innings before the bullpen took over from there. Alex Rodriguez homered for the Yankees, but RBIs from Josh Hamilton and Chris Davis led Texas.
