Yankees Offense Continues to Sputter in Loss to Jays

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New York Yankees 2, Toronto Blue Jays 5

On Saturday, the New York Yankees, who have been struggling offensively, made a lot of noise.

But certainly not with their bats.

After a rough inning, ace Gerrit Cole hit the dugout roof twice while yelling and getting booed. After a 5-2 loss to Toronto, which was the team’s 15th loss in 19 games, manager Aaron Boone hit the podium with his right hand and talked about how bad things have been for his team.

The Yankees, who are in first place in the AL East, have gone from 64-28 before the All-Star break to 9-20 since then. On July 8, they had a lead of 15 1/2 games over second-place Toronto. Now, that lead is only seven games.

Elias Sports Bureau says the Yankees have lost six straight since 1995. Sunday, New York will try to avoid a four-game sweep after scoring 21 runs in 11 games.

Cole (9-6) didn’t allow a hit until the fifth inning. After walking Danny Jansen and misplaying a grounder, Alejandro Kirk hit a two-run double Andrew Benintendi couldn’t catch.

At the end of the inning, the crowd booed Cole, and TV cameras caught the right-hander screaming and punching the bottom of the dugout roof.

Cole thought he was to blame for the walk and the error in fielding.

Some of the 45,538 people in the crowd reacted like Cole did, with boos getting louder after Toronto went ahead and getting loudest after the last out.

Jackie Bradley drove in two runs with a double down the left-field line, but Benintendi couldn’t reach the carom because it had bounced off the wall. After missing on a close two-strike pitch, Santiago Espinal doubled for Toronto’s first hit, and Bradley came through.

On an infield hit, Raimel Tapia beat Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s throw and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. reached when Gerrit Cole slipped in front of the mound. Cole’s error let Guerrero beat the throw, and Toronto challenged and won.

Then, Kirk hit a double to left-center, giving the Blue Jays a 4-1 lead. Benintendi was playing a little closer to the middle, ran back, and tried to make a diving catch, but the ball got past his glove. Center fielder Estevan Florial caught it and threw out Guerrero to stop a third run from scoring.

The Blue Jays won their fourth straight game when Matt Chapman hit a solo home run in the ninth. Since the start of last season, Toronto is 13–6 in the Bronx.

The Yankees had nine hits, including a single by Florial that scored a run and a home run by Gleyber Torres in the eighth. However, they were only 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position.

Before giving up four runs, Cole only let two runners reach base in the first four innings. Judge in right field and rookie third baseman Oswaldo Cabrera made some good defensive plays to help Cole out.

Judge made a running catch to stop Bo Bichette from getting a double in the second. His left shoulder hit the fence as he did it. Cabrera finished the play after his head hit the side wall padding after diving face first into the tarp to catch Bradley’s popup. Cabrera got Bradley’s popup.

In four innings, Mitch White, the starter for Toronto, gave up one run and seven hits. The win went to Adam Cimber (9-4), and Yimi Garca made his first save.

UP NEXT

Sunday, Toronto’s Alek Manoah faces New York’s Nestor Cortes. Paul O’Neill’s No. 21 will be retired in an on-field ceremony at Yankee Stadium.

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