Brett Tomko???

It had been nearly two months since the Yankees were last shutout.

Did any ever expect Brett Tomko would snap that streak?

Brett Tomko? Really? The guy whom the Yankees released last month? Are you kidding me?

Tomko pitched five innings and three relievers finished off the seven-hitter in a 3-0 victory over the Yankees in Oakland Monday, slicing New York's lead over the Red Sox in the AL East to seven games.

I'll be honest here, given my new schedule that has me waking up for work at 5:30 a.m., staying up for West Coast games is tough. I took last night's game for granted and went to bed, so imagine my surprise when my 3-year-old son woke up me at 3 a.m. asking for some milk and I discovered the Yankees had not only lost, but were shutout.

Last time I make that mistake.

It's been a while since the offense put forth this kind of clunker, going 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and letting Tomko off the hook in the third when he got Alex Rodriguez to hit into a 1-2-3 double play to escape a bases-loaded, one-out jam.

Tomko ended up allowing five hits and one walk while striking out one. He was on a pitch count and that the Yankees did not work the count enough to get him out of the game sooner is an indictment of their effort.

Every offense is going to have an off day or even a down period from time to time. We saw that several times in the first half and the hope is Monday's effort was just a one-time deal.

Unfortunately, it spoiled a very good effort from A.J Burnett (10-6, 3.69 ERA), who allowed three runs on six hits and two walks in eight efficient innings. He struck out five and threw 66 of 99 pitches for strikes.

He was done in by a three-run fourth inning, during which he allowed runs on a Kurt Suzuki single, a balk and a double by Mark Ellis.

So that means the Yankees have lost two straight for only the second time since the All-Star break. It will be up to CC Sabathia tonight to be the stopper and ensure the Yankees finish this West Coast swing with a winning mark.

Runners In Scoring Position
Monday
0-for-6 (.000)
Season
284-for-1,099 (.258)
First Half
217-for-819 (.265)
Second Half
68-for-280 (.243)
Since A-Rod's Return May 8
219-for-827 (.265)
Vs. Red Sox
20-for-126 (.159)

Up Next
Tuesday at A's, 10:05 p.m., YES
Sabathia (13-7, 3.64) vs. Vin Mazzaro (4-8, 5.54)