Vernon Wells' three-run, game-winning double on Saturday didn't seem like a slump-buster yesterday.
Instead, it was just a momentary reprieve from the veteran outfielder's ongoing funk that has reached epic proportions.
Wells' struggles continued, as the Yankees' anemic lineup remained lifeless in a 2-0 loss to the Rangers and left-hander Derek Holland at the Stadium, the club's third setback in its last four games. Wells struck out in all three of his at-bats, extending his slump to a hard-to-fathom 11-for-99, which includes 20 strikeouts. He has just one multi-hit game since May 13, is batting .127 (8-for-66) in June and hasn't homered since May 15, a span of 119 at-bats.
Anthony J Causi
Vernon Wells
"Today was just a bad day," said the 34-year-old Wells, who has been working on shortening his swing, which he feels has gotten long since his hot start, when he hit .300 with six home runs and 13 RBIs in April. "When I got a chance to get in the lineup the last few days, pinch-hitting, I had good swings. Today was just a bad day."
That yesterday's whiffs came against a southpaw only exacerbated his deep fog. Wells was so productive over the season's first six weeks against southpaws, bludgeoning lefties as the Yankees defied the odds in hanging near the top of the AL East with Curtis Granderson, Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez on the disabled list.
The established stars are unlikely to be back soon, which means the Yankees will need Wells to find his stroke if they are going to remain within hailing distance in the division.
There was the sense Wells had snapped out of his funk on Saturday, when he ripped that three-run, game-winning double to right-center field in a victory over the Rays. But with rookie outfielder Zoilo Almonte playing so well, manager Joe Girardi stayed away from Wells against right-handers each of the previous three games, and Wells was only in the lineup yesterday because Brett Gardner was under the weather and needed a day off.
The rest didn't seem to help Wells at all. His average is down to .223, from .288 as recently as May 21, though he toed the company line about playing time and waiting his turn.
"It is what it is. You get an opportunity, you got to take advantage of it," said Wells, who came over from the Angels in an offseason trade. "That's what it comes down to."
Wells was the poster boy for the Yankees' surprising start, part of the "B-Squad" along with Travis Hafner and Lyle Overbay that kept them afloat despite a rash of injuries.
Recently, he's also symbolized their struggles.
"Keep working, that's what we do," Wells said when asked how he can rekindle his April magic. "You go through struggles. You keep working, try to get through."
zbraziller@nypost.com
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