Bad Defense Costs Yankees In Toronto

Jun 24, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter (2) is unable to tag out Toronto Blue Jays center fielder Colby Rasmus (28) during the fifth inning in a game against the New York Yankees at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

Its one thing to lose because you’re not hitting. Hitting comes and goes throughout the year. It’s another when defensive fundamentals cost you games. Defense was costly in the Yankees 7-6 defeat to the Blue Jays tonight.

This game was scoreless and David Phelps and Mark Buehrle matched zeros for the first three innings. In the fourth Toronto broke through. Adam Lind and Edwin Encarnacion singled and two batters later ex-Yankee Dioner Navarro hit his fourth homer of the season.

The next inning led to more Toronto runs. Munenori Kawasaki and Jose Reyes singled. After two outs, Derek Jeter misplayed Encarnacion’s groundball to load the bases. The bases were cleared when Colby Rasmus hit a single to right off the wall. Two runs scored. Rasums got into a run down and on Jeter’s missed tag, Encarnacion scored.

The Yankees fought back though. In the sixth, Jeter led off with his second homer of the year.

Then they tied it in a big seventh inning. With one out, Brian McCann doubled and Brian Roberts hit his third homer of the year. Two batters later, Brett Gardner doubled to knock out Buehrle. Enter Dustin McGowan and the Yankees teed off on him. Jeter would walk and then Jacoby Ellsbury singled home Gardner. The runners advanced when Melky Cabrera‘s throw got past Navarro at home.

Reyes errant throw on Mark Teixeira‘s grounder brought home two more runs to tie it.

Both teams would continue to have chances.

Dellin Betances got out of a bases loaded, one out jam in the eighth on a groundout and a strikeout. Gardner led of fthe ninth with a single, but the Yankees couldn’t bring him home.

Defense would cost the Yankees the game in the ninth. Adam Warren came in and gave up a double to Reyes. Cabrera bunted and Solarte’s throw went down the right field line. Reyes would score and the game would end.

The Yankees look to avoid a sweep with Hiroki Kuroda facing Drew Hutchinson tomorrow night at 7:05.