Let’s face it. Hiroki was getting knocked around even before he got knocked by that ball. It wasn’t his night, and it wasn’t the Yankees’ night. Again.

Preston Claiborne III wasn’t much better, but the good news about this loss to the O’s (I always try to find at least something positive to say – almost always) was the resurgence of Granderson. Girardi predicted he would break out at the plate and that’s exactly what he did. And David Adams, our current and maybe future third baseman, had another homer, endearing himself to me. And finally, Adam Warren pitched well in relief.

So although tonight’s game wasn’t much fun to watch, there were bright spots.

The Yanks have now lost two in a row and I’m wondering if the good times are over for awhile. Silly, right? Why shouldn’t they bounce back against the Rays? Of course they will. They will. They will. They will. (I figure if I say it enough it’ll happen.)

Photo: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Ugh. I watched this game until I had to leave for a friend’s birthday dinner. The Yanks were tied with the O’s 2-2 and I figured our pen would take care of business until somebody – anybody – knocked in a run.

Wrong. It seems only Travis Hafner showed up with the big-boy RBI bat. And Vidal Nuno, who’d been so reliable, coughed up the game in the 10th. I didn’t find out until dinner was over. I left the restaurant, got into the car and checked my phone, which I nearly threw out the window when I read the wrap-up.

At least Hughes hung around longer than an inning and actually pitched well. That’s something.

Courtesy: Christie’s Real Estate

More like “The Penthouse Floor Yankees,” despite what Michael Kay calls this scrappy team of cast offs.

What an exciting comeback win tonight to kick off the series at Camden Yards. The O’s always play us tough, despite their pitching woes, so I had a feeling there would be extra innings somehow.

What I didn’t expect was CC’s mediocrity. Is he just having his first half doldrums or was it the result of the rainout of his scheduled start? Who knows, but I hope he snaps out of it soon, because watching him give back the lead was not my idea of a good time.

Watching guys like Adams, Cano, Overbay and Hafner go deep, on the other hand, was very entertaining, as were the huge doubles by Ichiro and Wells.

I keep wondering how long this team can continue to win ballgames, but maybe I should be wondering why I’m suddenly not that desperate for Tex, Youkilis, Nunez, Joba and Nova to come back. (Notice I didn’t say Jeter. He’s always welcome to show up.)

Photo: Debby Wong/USA TODAY Sports

Hal looks like a hilarious guy, doesn’t he? Seriously stiff, but maybe he loosens up at home.

Anyhow, he showed up to greet fans and talk to the media before today’s win over the Jays, and he said, as if it were obvious, “Of course the Yankees are in first place. I knew all along that Travis Hafner would lead us to a world championship.”

No, he didn’t really say that, but he did express early confidence in this Yankees team.

And why not? They just keep beating up on the Blue Jays and I wish we played them every game. They looked pathetic on defense, really dreadful. As Paul O’Neill said during the YES broadcast, “Somebody – the manager or one of their players – needs to get angry in the clubhouse.”

As for our side, what a day for Cano. Hal can sound all business-as-usual about the contract talks with Cano’s agent, but how do you not pay this guy.

Phelps did a great job for the second game in a row.

Either this team of oldsters and youngsters is really gelling or the other teams we’ve been playing aren’t very good.

I stole Barbara’s comment from the previous post, but it’s perfect. (Credit: Barbara) I watched the game until the ninth inning when I had to go out for dinner, but what a performance by Kuroda. Is he our ace this year or what? The Jays came in hot as anybody and he shut them down decisively. Wow.

And those Baby Bombers just kept hitting. Miraculous. And Baby Bomber Preston Claiborne finished up. I’m liking these kids a lot. Even old man Ichiro got into the act with that perfect bunt. He may not be hitting but he’s still a master technician.

All in all a very good night for the Yanks, despite the news that Pettitte’s on the DL (what else is new).

That’s right, shattered glass. It’s insane. Andy Pettitte was cruising along tonight, albeit having given up a run, and then – boom – he was gone, attended to by the dreaded Stevie Donahue. Let’s see how long he’s out with this cockamamie trapezoid thingie. Ugh.

And Stewart. He was running the bases and he “felt something” that turned out to be a groin injury. Not good for a catcher. Come on, guys. Get it together and stop falling apart! I’m sick of this. Is Romine ready to catch CC and Kuroda and the whole staff? Who’s the backup catcher now?

Okay, rant over.

The Yankees dropped the series finale to the Mariners and they should have won it. The offense went to sleep, period. I did too. This game was too boring for words with only some moderate will-they-mount-a-comeback suspense at the very end. Snore.

This blowout reminded me of that game against the Rays when Swisher pitched. Instead, we had Alberto Gonzalez taking a turn on the mound, with Wells at second and Stewart at first. Craziness.

Preston Claiborne seems to be impressing everyone. Maybe he’s the new Joba, as in the Joba of ’07.

Photo: AP/Mark Duncan

I couldn’t believe it when, as I was cheering the return of Granderson, I read that Hafner was out with a sore shoulder and that MRI results are pending. Jeez. Am I wrong in thinking the injury bug has invaded all of baseball, not just the Yankees? It’s crazy out there.

Granderson clearly needs some major league games under his belt. He looked rusty, but it was nice having him back. I missed a lot of the game (I went to see “The Great Gatsby”), but caught enough of it to see that CC notched quite a few strikeouts and Mo got yet another save. I did not get to see the Overbay/King Felix collision except for replays. Sounds like Felix was in command before that happened though.

What was so heartening to read about was the comeback aspect of the Yanks. Being down a few runs against The King isn’t a happy prospect, but they clawed their way back and stole it. Bravo.

It was quite a day for the next generation of Yankee players – AKA the Scranton team – as several of them got the call to help out with the doubleheader in Cleveland. While the Yanks did lose the opener in a shutout, Phelps pitched very well, minus his walks. It was in the second game that the Baby Bombers really did their thing. Vidal Nuno and Adam Warren, two pitchers who’d been impressive in spring training, were impressive today, shutting out an Indians team that had been red hot. And how about emergency infielder Corbin Joseph getting his first major league hit and Austin Romine getting in on the offensive action too. And then there were the usual heroics from Wells, Nix and Overbay (I still can’t believe it every time I type their names). I don’t know what magic pixie dust Girardi is sprinkling in their Gatorade, but it’s working.

The YES guys were talking about Granderson coming back and I’m glad, I really am, but I like the chemistry of this group right now. I don’t want the big stars screwing it up!

Now if I can just stop calling Austin Romine “Austin Romaine” and Vidal Nuno “Vidal Nunez,” that would be nice.

P.S. Just wanted to post this pic sent to me by Yankee Fan and FOB Cesare (he reads but doesn’t comment). I got a kick out of it.

And Vernon Wells. Are there enough superlatives for him right now? The man has been positively resurrected from the dead.

Tomorrow’s doubleheader in Cleveland should be interesting since the roster’s so thin and Nova isn’t healthy enough to pitch (what’s up with that?). I just hope they get through it in one piece.