Yankees set to host Red Sox following two devastating losses

The Yankees lose two of three games against the Blue Jays and now look to rebound against the Red Sox for their second-to-last regular season series in the Bronx.

It was a tough weekend at the Stadium as the Yankees could only muster one win against the Jays. They lost two of their worst games this season two days in a row. The series took a much different turn than anticipated.

Friday’s victory was the one positive takeaway from the weekend. Masahiro Tanaka’s six scoreless frames (6.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 K) set the tone for an offensive eruption. The offense put up 11 runs on 14 hits. Home runs from Andrew McCutchen and Didi Gregorius and RBIs from Aaron Hicks, Gregorius, Gleyber Torres, Luke Voit, Giancarlo Stanton, and two from Brett Gardner accounted for runs. Luis Cessa pitched three innings to complete the shutout of the Blue Jays.

On Saturday, the Yankees lost a heartbreaker. CC Sabathia’s messy outing (2.1 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 0 BB, 2 K) gave the Blue Jays an early 5-0 lead. The Yankees did not score until the sixth inning from a Didi homer. Tommy Kahnle came on to pitch in the seventh and fell apart, allowing three runs on three hits. Amazingly, the Yankees put together a rally in the seventh, scoring six runs on two solo shots (Didi and Stanton) and an Andújar grand slam. They nearly came all the way back, as hope for a comeback flourished. However, they failed to further the rally, as they lost 8-7.

Sunday’s matinee was not much better. The Yankees took an encouraging early lead with a McCutchen leadoff homer and a Didi sac fly. Lance Lynn’s solid start (5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K) kept Toronto’s offense at bay through most of the game. Once Dellin Betances pitched the eighth, however, things took an ugly turn. He allowed two runs on four hits, blowing the save. Because the Yankees’ offense failed to score again, Betances collected his sixth loss of the season and the Yankees lost the rubber match by a final of 5-2.

Saturday and Sunday’s games were just about as disappointing as the Yankees could have imagined. Losing a series to a team with a 67-82 record when scrambling for a Wild Card lead is insufferable. Now, the Yankees have an off day on Monday but will face the Red Sox in a three-game set before their final home series against the Orioles.

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Despite the poor position the Yankees are in, the team is still confident that they have a deep postseason run in their future. Aaron Judge discussed the team’s final weeks, New York Post’s George A. King III reports:

“It is all about what team is hot at the end. If we can get hot here in the last two weeks, take that into the playoffs, we’re going to be in a good position. Just about getting them the next day.’’

13 games remain in the regular season. The Boston Red Sox have just one game to win until they clinch the division. The Yankees have 91 wins. They will play four more series and only two more at home. This team is struggling to keep a handle on the Wild Card lead. Crushing losses and wasted opportunities have put them in a bad place. They have limitless potential with their roster but have not shown they can play like a champion-caliber team for quite some time.

Time is running out for this team, but they still have opportunities. With under two weeks remaining in the regular season, the Yankees must strive to win as much as possible and built some momentum heading into October. The two Red Sox series will be challenging but should act as a test for the Yankees to show if they are truly capable of beating the best. The team is also hopeful of Judge’s near return to the lineup this upcoming week.

Chances are quickly diminishing for the Yankees, but all can be forgiven if they heat up leading into the postseason. They have a lot to still prove, but the team has all the tools it needs to be a successful, winning team. The Yankees hope to capitalize on their opportunities and finish the homestand on a strong note.