Johnny Damon connects for a home run for Yankees. This year, Damon has been consistent for Yanks, with nine home runs and 25 runs batted in during his contract year. (Photo courtesy of New York Daily News)
It seems like the story is the same every year for the New York Yankees. An injured star leaves a gaping hole in the lineup that is plugged by role players that keep the team near contention. Meet this year's latest subject of that story, Johnny Damon.
At 36, Damon is no stranger to this landscape in the Bronx, in this his fourth campaign in pinstripes. Therefore, it should come as no surprise to find that Damon, in his contract year, leads the team with nine home runs and 25 runs batted in. To spice things up further, he's doing this with a bum left shoulder that he's been treating regularly as of late, and maybe in the future too, according to the outfielder himself.
"I keep getting treatment and it's been all right so far," said Damon, whose three-run shot in the seventh inning yesterday gave the Yankees a 5-3 win over Baltimore at Camden Yards, one day after pitching phenom Phil Hughes gave up eight runs and couldn't get out of the second inning. Manager Joe Girardi, who has faced a battle of his own thus far this season, praised Damon as "a big spark for us, and we've really needed it."
In addition to the power numbers, Damon is hitting .314 through the first month of the season.
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