Johnny Damon was stranded in the on-deck circle at the end of Boston’s 10-7, ALCS Game 1 loss to the Yankees. That probably prevented him further embarrassment.

Damon, who whiffed 71 times in 150 regular-season games, struck out four times in the ALCS opener.

Had he gotten a hit in his last two at-bats, in the seventh or eighth innings, the Sox might’ve pulled off the improbable comeback from an 8-0, seventh-inning deficit.

The Boston leadoff hitter went down swinging, looking and swinging against Mike Mussina and was the last Boston hitter Mussina retired before losing his perfect game.

“Striking out Johnny Damon is not easy to do,” Joe Torre said.

Said Damon, “[Mussina] was throwing the ball pretty good.”

If the Yankees can handcuff Damon, who also struck out swinging against Tom Gordon, they’ll go a long way toward beating the Red Sox. Damon was the catalyst of the ALDS sweep of Anaheim.

He had at least two hits in each of the three games, batting .467 (7-for-15) with a double, three stolen bases and four runs scored. He started the winning rally in the 10th inning of Game 3 with a single off Francisco Rodriguez.

Although Damon didn’t contribute against the Yankees, he was buoyed by Boston’s comeback.

“We were relaxed,” he said. “We definitely didn’t think we’d come back that far, but to do that has got to be special.”

Terry Francona has touted Damon’s contributions as just as important as those of Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz, who both could finish in the top five in MVP voting.

Last year, after suffering a concussion in the ALDS, Damon played in five of the seven ALCS games and batted .200 (4-for-20).

“I’m glad I get to be a part of it,” he said before the series started. “You would think your adrenaline would really be at its very top, and I had none last year.

“I was one of those guys who kinda threw his glove out on the field and hoped for the best. This year’s gonna be different.”