The Yankees lost again.
The death spiral that began in Boston last weekend continued into this weekend. This time, the Yankees offense, which went 33 innings without scoring, finally scored a run in the seventh inning of Sunday afternoon’s game. Then, perhaps even more miraculously, they scored two in the ninth to take a 3-2 lead. But alas, it was not meant to be because the Yankees’ bullpen, which was a strength a few weeks ago, once again, became its liability. They couldn’t hold a lead in the bottom of the ninth and the Blue Jays walked off with a 4-3 victory.
Dellin Betances and Tyler Clippard were the tag team of doom Sunday afternoon with Betances leading off the bottom of the ninth with a walk and Clippard surrendering the game-tying and winning runs. It was Clippard’s second loss in as many days.
The Yankees are now 5 1/2 games back in the race for the second wild card spot with only seven games remaining. It is quite possible that they can be eliminated as early as Monday night.
The Play: Encarcacion walks it off (WPA +.167)
The Yankees walked the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth to set up the double play. That didn’t happen. Instead, Encarnacion hit an infield single to win the game.
Top Performers
—Jose Bautista 2-2 with two walks, two RBI and a home run
—Mark Teixeira 2-4 with a double
Notes
—This is the Yankees’ fourth straight loss.
—The Yankees have lost eight games in Toronto this season. They have also lost eight in Fenway this season which means this is the first time they’ve lost eight games on the road in two different stadiums since they did it in Boston and Chicago in 1959.
—Betances has now allowed a run in five of his past seven appearances.
—The Yankees have lost 11 of the last 14 games.
The Highlight: Didi hits number 19 (WPA +.196)
Didi Gregorius who went deep off Toronto’s starter Marco Estrada for his 19th home run of the season. It’s a new career-high and it snapped the Yankees’ 33 inning scoreless streak. It was one inning short of the franchise’s all-time record of 34 straight scoreless innings according to YES.
Up Next:
The Yankees will try to avoid another four-game sweep at the hands of a division rival on Monday night in Rogers Centre. They will be sending Luis Severino (3-8, 5.70) to the mound to face off against J.A. Happ (20-4, 3.28 ERA). The action starts at 7:07 p.m.
Photo Credit: Kevin Sousa / USA TODAY Sports