A chance not handled cleanly

But the world is not perfect and neither are the Red Sox, and so citizens of the Nation will have to swallow yesterday's 3-1 loss to the Bronx Bombers.

Too bad. For in the words of the late, great Barry White, when it comes to beating up on the Yankees . . . it's just never enough.

"It's baseball," said first baseman and realist Kevin Youkilis. "They pitched better than us today. You've got to tip your cap to them and go out tomorrow and try to win the series."

Folks were certainly reeling here in the Apple yesterday morning. A seven-game losing streak and a last-place team with a $195 million payroll are ample cause for embarrassment and alarm.

Greedy Sox fans wanted more; 2004 was historic and will never go away, but the Red Sox have finished behind the Yankees in 11 consecutive seasons. In case you forgot, some bad stuff happened here in 2003 (ask yesterday's losing pitcher, Tim Wakefield) and there were a few other indignities suffered at the hands of New York during the 20th century. Which is why the Sox can never beat these guys enough times.

Three hours before yesterday's game, Yankee gods were circling the wagons in the inner sanctum. A stroll into the Yankee clubhouse almost always guarantees at least one legend sighting, and early yesterday Yogi Berra stood outside Joe Torre's office chatting with Don Mattingly, while Reggie Jackson sat in a chair and spoke with Derek Jeter.

Jeter's locker is just a few feet away from the empty stall where captain Thurman Munson dressed before his fatal plane crash in 1979. Munson played with Reggie. Reggie played with Roy White, who played with Whitey Ford, who played with Yogi, who played with Joe DiMaggio, who played with Lou Gehrig, who played with the Babe. You get the picture.

The ever-professional Torre answered all the uncomfortable questions before the victory. He'd been at the park late Friday night, meeting with his coaches, and he no doubt was aware the back page of the Post had his photo next to the headline: "LINE OF FIRE."