NEW YORK – A high-priced slugger is having a hard time in the postseason with the New York Yankees.
No, not that one. This time, it's Mark Teixeira who looks out of sorts at the plate.
While Alex Rodriguez piles up RBIs in the cleanup spot behind him, Teixeira seeks answers in his first postseason after signing an eight-year, $180 million contract with New York in January.
"Maybe I'm expanding the zone a little bit – I don't know," he said. "Maybe I'm trying to do too much – I don't know. The problem is that every single game's new; every pitcher's new. You're facing a righty. You're facing a lefty. So try to go out and have good at-bats."
Teixeira went 1 for 5 in the Yankees' 8-6 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday night, sending the World Series back to the Bronx for Game 6 tonight. He doubled and scored in New York's three-run rally in the eighth inning but struck out with a runner on second to end the game.
The night dropped the switch hitter's postseason average to .172 with two home runs, seven RBIs and 16 strikeouts. He is 2 for 19 in his World Series debut.
"They're really pitching him really tough," catcher Jorge Posada said Tuesday. "They are pitching him tough, tight on him, and then throwing breaking balls and off-speed stuff away."
Teixeira was terrific during the regular season, making a seamless transition to playing ball in the Big Apple. He hit .292 with 39 homers, tying Tampa Bay's Carlos Peña for the American League lead, and 122 RBIs. He also played stellar defense at first base.
The All-Star slugger got off to a nice start in the playoffs, winning Game 2 of the American League Division Series against Minnesota with a leadoff homer in the 11th inning. But he quickly slumped.
"Unfortunately, during this playoffs, it's been tough to get into a rhythm," Teixeira said. "When you're in a rhythm during the season, you're going to fail seven out of 10 times. When you're not in a rhythm, you're going to fail a lot more than that, and unfortunately for me, that's kind of been the case right now."
Teixeira reached the playoffs for the first time last year, batting .467 (7 for 15) when the Los Angeles Angels lost to Boston in four games in the first round. This is his first extended postseason run, and he acknowledged he's still adjusting to all the extra off days.
"I'm not going to make any excuses because everyone's had to deal with it, but it hasn't been easy," he said.
Teixeira, 29, doesn't have to look very far for consolation. Ryan Howard, Philadelphia's All-Star first baseman, has driven in just one run against the Yankees and struck out 12 times, tying Willie Wilson for the World Series record.
New York can win its 27th World Series title with a victory over Pedro Martínez and the Phillies in Game 6. Teixeira hit a tying homer off Martínez in the fourth inning of the Yankees' 3-1 victory in Game 2.
"My teammates have been picking me up all season," Teixeira said. "I've been picking them up all season. That's just the way a team works, and right now we're in a great spot. We're 3-2, have a chance to win (tonight), and I'm just going to try to go have good at-bats."
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