Girardi: Yankees are lucky to be in first place

After watching them drop a second straight game to the A's, it's easy to wonder if the Yankees deserve their first-place spot in the standings.

The club -- now just 25-24 following a 4-12 stretch -- has struggled both offensively and rotation-wise of late, leading many to believe luck is the reason for their early success.

Many including Joe Girardi, apparently, with the manager saying Friday the slumping Yanks are fortunate to be where they are.

"I think so," Girardi told The LoHud Yankees Blog. "Especially the way we've struggled the last two weeks."

The Yankees had lost 10 of 11 prior to this week's sweep of the Royals, and with the Orioles beginning to look better, they need to improve soon.

New York will visit the surging Mariners on Monday, a matchup that doesn't appear to favor them. Seattle has not been defeated in a home series since April 24-26, when the surprise Twins won 2/3.

The AL East remains one of baseball's weakest divisions, however, so the Yankees still have an opportunity to turn it around.

"Our division right now is up for grabs," Girardi said. "We need to take advantage of that."