"Over the first three months of the season, Mark Teixeira made up for his low batting average with a surge in home runs.

The average remains low, but the power has disappeared since the beginning of July, leaving Teixeira again struggling to find his stroke.

"The first three months, I felt like I did everything I could to get off to a good start and I did that," Teixeira said. "A lot of home runs and RBI to start off the season; average is average. When my timing is off, I'm not driving the ball. The last three weeks, I haven't been driving the ball."

Teixeira finished June with 25 home runs and 63 RBI to go along with his .243 average, .351 on-base percentage and .541 slugging percentage.

Those numbers have dropped dramatically in July, as he is hitting .238 with no home runs and only four RBI in the first 16 games of the month. His on-base percentage is .314 and his slugging is an anemic .302, further evidence of his lack of power.

"He's had a tough stretch of games where he's been out of sync," hitting coach Kevin Long said. "He's been late more than anything else, and when you're late, you just don't give yourself a chance.""