(My Sportsbook) - The New York Yankees have given righthander Jeff Weaver every opportunity to succeed this season. Weaver, though, has disappointed them time and time again and has showed no signs that he will be a contributor down the stretch for the Yankees in their drive towards a sixth straight AL East title.

Last night Weaver was up to his old tricks, as he matched career highs in both runs (9) and hits (13) allowed in New York's embarrassing 11-0 loss to the Kansas City Royals. New York is just 9-15 in Weaver's 24 appearances this season.

"He didn't make good pitches," Torre said. "He left a lot over the plate and the Royals let him know about it. Tonight was a disappointment. He looked very frustrated. It wasn't a good night. I found no positives in the way he pitched tonight."

Weaver seemed to come unraveled in the first inning after a check swing call did not go his way. That loaded the bases for Mike Sweeney, who drilled a two- run single, setting the stage for a forgettable performance.

"What it has come to is an understanding it's all going to be a test. This is the first time I have been a failure this long," Weaver said. "It's my turn to deal with it and figure out what it takes to get out of it."

Prior to the season some baseball pundits were saying how Weaver could be the brightest star of a Yankee rotation loaded with superstars. Now those same pundits are questioning whether or not Weaver has the makeup to succeed in the bright lights of New York.

"Hopefully, everyone stays confident behind me. These guys have been really good about continually supporting," Weaver added. "Everything that can go wrong now is going wrong."

As bad as Weaver has been, the Yankee bats seem to disappear when he takes the hill. In his last five losses New York has scored two runs and has been shutout in four of those contests, including a June 11 night when the Yankees were no-hit by the Houston Astros.

"The best way to help out is to score some runs and to score some runs early, and we haven't done that for him," said team captain Derek Jeter. "It seems like he always has that one inning where things don't go his way. We need to score some runs for him."

The Yankees, who lost their third series in four chances, fell for the fourth time in five games on Wednesday and saw their lead in the East shrink to just three games over the Boston Red Sox, who defeated Oakland last night.

New York does not seem too concerned though by its recent struggles.

"It's great when you can struggle this time of year and still be in first place," said Jeter. "A lot of teams would like to be in our position right now."

WHO'S HOT

Bernie Williams is 7-for-his last-15, while Jorge Posada has 12 hits in his last 26 at-bats.

WHO'S NOT

Third baseman Aaron Boone is just 6-for-44 since being acquired from the Cincinnati Reds with one RBI.

COMING UP

New York starts a four-game series with the Baltimore Orioles this evening at Camden Yards before returning home for 10 games.