Jason's home run a beautiful thong in loss to Mets in Subway Series opener

BY BRENDAN BROSH and LARRY McSHANE
DAILY NEWS WRITERS

Saturday, May 17th 2008, 8:59 PM

Daily News

Johnny Damon looked very pleased after the Daily News presented the Yanks with new thongs on Friday. 'I will definitely wear it if I can,' he said.

Cataffo/News

Jason Giambi wears a gold thong when he's trying to break out of a slump, but it doesn't help the Yankees Saturday in a loss to the Mets.

Don't blame the thong.

Yes, the Yankees lost Saturday in their first game since Jason Giambi admitted the team has turned to his lucky gold lamé underwear to revive its languishing lumber.

But Giambi was one of three Yankees to homer in a 7-4 Subway Series loss to the Mets, and the Bronx Bombers collected nine hits. Maybe right-hander Mike Mussina

was onto something before the game.

"Pitchers need thongs, too," Mussina wrote on a dry erase board in the Yankee clubhouse before their defeat.

Confessed thong-wearer Derek Jeter ripped a two-run homer. Teammate Bobby Abreu, despite recoiling in horror at the whole thong, went deep, too.

But starter Andy Pettitte and reliever Kyle Farnsworth surrendered three runs apiece, too much for the Yankee bats to overcome. Joba Chamberlain gave up the last run to the Mets.

The home run was a welcome sight for Giambi, who was hitting just .181 with 7 homers and 20 RBI coming into the game.

"Jason's been swinging the bat well," said Yankees teammate Johnny Damon, another thong fan.

Giambi's unmentionables were mentioned repeatedly in the clubhouse before Saturday's Subway Series game.

"I'm still chuckling," said Yankee hitter Shelley Duncan. "It could be a sign that the world is coming to an end."

Apocalypse thong? Unlikely, although not all of the Yankee hurlers shared Mussina's sentiments about getting their shot at the magic briefs.

"I don't think I'll fit into one," said pitcher Darrell Rasner.

In the other clubhouse at Yankee Stadium, Mets starter John Maine was in complete agreement with his crosstown rival.

"Never," Maine said when asked whether he would consider wearing a thong on the mound.

Mets pitcher Matt Wise said his superstitions would remain a secret - and not Victoria's Secret. "I've got to give [Giambi] some credit for coming out with that," Wise said.

Giambi's secret broke Friday on Portfolio.com when the highly paid slugger said, "I only put it on when I'm desperate to get out of a big slump."

Giambi said he received the thong while with the Oakland A's in 1996 and brought it with him to the Yankees as a free agent.

Giambi still swears by the underwear's redemptive powers - no surprise in a game where superstitions are rampant.

"To each his own," said Mets outfielder Ryan Church, who dresses in the same outfit every day when on a hitting streak. "I'm just trying to picture him in a thong . . . It's a little weird."