Gotham pity

Bard’s two blown saves have bookended the Red Sox’ current six-game skid that has left them 6 1/2 games back in the American League East and tied with the Rangers for the wild card after last night’s 5-2 loss.

As David Ortiz asked himself and a crowd of reporters, “It can’t get no worse, right?’’

“We’re going to try,’’ Ortiz said. “We’re going to keep on playing. Nothing we can do but play.’’

The blast by Teixeira rendered moot Boston’s first offensive uprising in three games, a two-run homer by Victor Martinez that lifted the visitors for a moment. But the happiness was ephemeral. The Yankees’ four-run rally led to cries of “Sweep’’ from the 48,190 in the park.

Asked before the game about his recent declaration that the Yankees were a pretty good team feeling good about themselves, manager Terry Francona responded, “They’re still a pretty good team feeling better about themselves. They’re good. We recognize that. We’re real good. I also think, you recognize there’s a lot of ups and downs during the season. How you deal with those ups and downs really can define your season?

“This game will make you lose your hair . . . It’s just hard. One day you feel like you’re flying high, the next day you feel like you’re not very good. So if you don’t handle that, it can beat you up a little bit.’’

Francona had little to add after the game. The feeling was much the same, a perhaps forced positivity that said not all was lost. Not the division, not their pride, not an offense that continues to struggle. Ortiz was frank when asked if it was too early to focus on the wild card. “Not really,’’ he said.

Yet Ortiz’s message to the fans was, “Stay positive. Things gonna change.’’ It was hard to know if he was talking to the faithful or to himself.

“We’re fine,’’ Dustin Pedroia said. “We’ve got 50-something games left. The season doesn’t make six games. Tampa beat up on us, and now the Yankees did. We’ll go home . . . and try to find a way to score.’’