By GEORGE A. KING III

Johnny Damon, the AL’s leading hitter with a .322 average going into today’s action, wasn’t in the Yankees’ starting lineup versus Twins lefty Glen Perkins at the Metrodome.

It had nothing to do with Damon’s left shoulder bothering him, or any other body part hurting.

“Johnny has played a lot, (20) straight games,” said Joe Girardi, who started Independent League refugee Jason Christian in left field and Richie Sexson, who was signed off the street after being released by the worst team (Seattle) in baseball, at designated hitter. “We are making sure Johnny doesn’t break down. This could be Johnny’s last day off.”

Keeping Damon fresh for the stretch run is sound reasoning. However, the Yankees were 8 1/2 games behind front-running Tampa Bay in the AL East and four back of the wild-card-leading Red Sox. Plus they were 2 1/2 games behind the Twins, who were second in the wild-card hunt.

“Every game is a premium,” Girardi said before trying to snap a three-game losing streak. “We are chasing teams. We have to win, that’s the bottom line.”

Yet with the team in a 12-for-59 (.203) slump with runners in scoring position across seven games, Girardi chose to sit Damon, whose .375 batting average in the clutch led the team. And Damon’s .296 average against lefties certainly wasn’t anemic. The only negative number you could find was Damon was 0-for-3 against Perkins.

“I am fine,” Damon said when asked if an injury was the reason for his absence. “Nothing wrong.”