BRAVES 5

YANKEES 2

The smoke reeks and cracks run through the mirrors.

While lefty Horacio Ramirez was impressive last night when he pitched the putrid Braves to a 5-2 win over the Yankees in front of 53,763 at Yankee Stadium, the smoke and mirrors the Yankees have used to overcome the absences of Hideki Matsui and Gary Sheffield appear to be out of effectiveness.

And yesterday the Yankees put Robinson Cano on the DL with a hamstring problem.

In the last 11 games the Yankees have stranded 106 runners.

In the previous four tilts they are 4-for-32 (.125) with runners in scoring position.

“We have to change our game plan to a more aggressive game plan,” said Johnny Damon, who went 1for-3 and stranded two by striking out looking in the seventh when the Yankees’ trailed, 2-1.

Maybe GM Brian Cashman has to alter his shopping list.

According to clubs, Cashman’s top priority is adding an arm. Yet, a bat might be the better way to go. While Matsui and Sheffield are expected back, nobody knows when or how effective they will be.

Joe Torre has been preaching small ball since January. Yet, even without Matsui and Sheffield, the Yankees should have enough muscle.

Alex Rodriguez is expected to carry the load but he is back in the funk most believed he was out of on the recent road trip. Since collecting three hits Friday night, A-Rod is in a 1-for-14 (.071) slide that has returned the boo birds.

“I have to tune it out,” A-Rod said of the catcalls that grew louder with each failed at-bat (0-for-4) and were the loudest when he fanned with a runner on second and one out in the eighth. “I have to relax more and enjoy the game a little more.” That may be hard to do at the Stadium, where A-Rod is hitting .254 (.36-for-142) with six homers and 19 RBIs. Outside The Bronx, A-Rod is a .301 hitter (40-for-133) with nine homers and 33 RBIs.

The Dead Bat Society had company when the bullpen failed to keep the game close. Together, they wasted Jaret Wright’s stellar effort.

“The bullpen didn’t do the job, it’s a simple as that,” Torre said.

Ron Villone gave up a homer to Adam LaRoche leading off the seventh that hiked the Braves’ lead to 3-1. T.J.

Beam yielded a run in the eighth. Kyle Farnsworth surrendered two runs in the ninth, and he walked off the back of the mound as Jorge Posada approached the hill after a passed ball.

Sensing an argument brewing, Torre sent Ron Guidry to the mound, but Posada left the hill when Guidry arrived.

Coupled with the Red Sox beating the Mets, the loss dropped the Yankees to 3 ½ games behind their blood rivals in the AL East. It’s the farthest back the Yankees have been since April 19.

Though Ramirez (3-2) limited the Yankees to one run and eight hits in eight frames, the losers had chances. In the third inning they had runners on second and third with one out and Derek Jeter at the plate.

But he bounced to Ramirez and Jason Giambi flied to right.

Wright (4-5) went six innings for the fourth time this season (first since June 2) and allowed a run and five hits.

In is last 11 innings (two appearances) Wright has surrendered one run.

“You always look to improve the team, and that’s what Cash does on a daily basis,” Torre said.

Again, Ramirez was good. Yet, with the smoke reeking and mirrors cracking, it may be time to replace arms with bats atop the shopping list.