Notebook: Yankees catch heat from boss

Joe Girardi hadn’t heard Hank Steinbrenner’s searing comments about the New York Yankees. The manager didn’t have to guess what they were about.

The team’s co-chairman said Wednesday that the Yankees’ lack of offensive production is “getting ridiculous” during a key stretch in the season, with upcoming series against the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays. The comments came before New York came alive for an 18-7 win over Texas.

After beating the New York Mets 9-0 in the second game of a doubleheader last Friday, the Yankees scored just seven runs and batted .172 in losing three of four.

“We’ve got to start hitting,” Steinbrenner said from Tampa, Fla. “They’ve got to start waking up. They’ve shown in flashes what they can still do.”

The last two losses have been one-run games to the Texas Rangers, who scored the go-ahead run off Mariano Rivera in the ninth inning of a 3-2 victory Tuesday night.

Pirates lose closer Capps

Closer Matt Capps will be sidelined for approximately eight weeks with a shoulder injury becoming the fourth Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher to go on the disabled list in the last two weeks.

Capps blew save chances in the first two games of a series against the Cincinnati Reds, and then flew to Pittsburgh for an MRI on his tender shoulder. The test indicated he has bursitis and tightness that prevents him from getting full extension during his delivery.

General manager Neal Huntington said the 24-year-old closer will go on a rehabilitation program for about four weeks, then take another four weeks to get back into pitching shape.

Clearing the bases

Brian McNamee asked a federal court late Tuesday to dismiss Roger Clemens’ defamation lawsuit or move the case to New York. Clemens, a seven-time Cy Young Award winner, sued McNamee in January after his former trainer accused him in the Mitchell Report of using steroids and human growth hormone. The case, originally filed in Texas state court, was moved to the U.S. District Court in Houston. … Oakland placed six-time Gold Glove third baseman Eric Chavez on the 15-day disabled list because of a sore right shoulder and promoted infielder Wes Bankston from Triple-A Sacramento. It was the second trip to the DL this season for the 30-year-old Chavez. … Reds shortstop Alex Gonzalez is scheduled for surgery Monday on his troublesome left knee, which has sidelined him all season. The surgery will end his chances of returning this season.