Baseball Chat

[Linchuck]

LEYRITZ BOOZE TEST WRONG

The failed Breathalyzer test that allegedly drove former Yankee slugger Jim Leyritz to consider suicide this week was a false positive, authorities said yesterday.

Leyritz suffered a mental breakdown and was hospitalized Wednesday after he blew into a breath machine that is attached to his car under the terms of his bail in the 2007 booze-related vehicular-manslaughter case against him.

The machine showed he had alcohol in his system, which would have been a bail violation that might have sent him to jail.

But at a hearing yesterday, officials said that the machine gave a false reading and that Leyritz was not drunk.

The former Yankee wore his World Series ring to court and looked in good spirits as the Breathalyzer was discussed.

Leyritz, 45, said he thought it gave the reading because he'd had chicken wings and ice tea for lunch.

"I have a fear now every time I get in my car that I can set it off," he said.

"It's a little scary."