Yankees giving their fans reasons for more concern

For most of the night Friday, the crowd at The Stadium was restless, reserved even. Can you blame them?

After the characteristically enthusiastic roll call, Yankees fans were unusually quiet for what’s often boasted to be baseball’s best rivalry, at least in these parts. There was, of course, the required piped-in, ear-splitting, nonsensical cacophony, which occasionally and loudly implored fans to “make some noise.”

The throng generally ignored the pleas, which only highlighted the odd quietude of a palindromic sellout crowd of 46,064. The faithful are undoubtedly and understandably inspired by concern for history’s landmark franchise, which wound up losing its seventh straight game to the archnemesis Red Sox, 1-0, and falling a half-game behind the despised rival they once led by double digits in the standings.

“I don’t like losing to them. I don’t like losing to anyone,” manager Aaron Boone said afterward. “I never want to lose to the Sox, and they’ve had our number here for this stretch. We get a chance to change that tomorrow.”