Report: Damon blasts Yankee teammates

NEW YORK, July 4 (UPI) -- Veteran New York Yankees outfielder Johnny Damon blasted his teammates after Thursday's 7-0 loss to Boston, a newspaper report said.

The New York Daily News report said Damon's tirade came during a locker room post-game meeting with reporters.

"We're not playing up to our expectations," Damon said after a 30-minute closed-door meeting. "The Steinbrenners (Yankees ownership) spent $200 million on (the team payroll) and we haven't shown what we're made of. We're damn lucky to put on these pinstripes. We definitely need to set a better example of what putting on these pinstripes means."

Damon suffered a shoulder injury in Friday's 6-4 loss to Boston when he crashed into the left-field wall while chasing Kevin Youkilis' third-inning fly ball -- which rested on the wall briefly before falling onto the field for a triple.

The team noted on its Web site late Friday that Damon underwent an MRI at New York Presbyterian Hospital, and was diagnosed with a contusion and left shoulder sprain.

His playing status is day-to-day.

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