The Yankees let one get away in Toronto on Monday night, falling 5-4 to the Blue Jays after a critical error shifted momentum.
In the sixth inning, shortstop Anthony Volpe chased down a ground ball to his right. With the tying run crossing home, Volpe made an aggressive play, attempting a difficult throw to first. It came up short.
Ernie Clement was safe, Nathan Lukes moved into scoring position, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. made the most of it with a sharp two-run single that slipped beneath Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s glove at third. Those runs proved decisive.
After the game, Volpe stood by his call:
“We’re going to be aggressive, try to make plays and back up the pitcher. That’s baseball. It happens. We had a lot of opportunities after that, too. I feel like we still took good at-bats and put good swings on the ball.”
Earlier in the same inning, Volpe had tried to gun down Davis Schneider at third after stopping a grounder from Myles Straw, but the throw went wild, allowing Straw to advance. That sequence sparked Toronto’s four-run burst, remarkably achieved with just two balls leaving the infield.
Manager Aaron Boone credited the Blue Jays’ contact-heavy approach:
“They did a good job putting the ball in play. It’s something they’ve done well this year. We weren’t getting outs on those balls. We obviously gave them a couple of extra bases.”
Boone said he had no issue with Volpe’s throw to third but questioned whether there was ever a real chance to get Clement at first. Volpe disagreed.
“I’m going to go for that play every single time,” he said. “The ball gets knocked down – it’s not an error, but I expect to make that play, whether it’s in the book or not.”
The collapse undid a solid outing from starter Carlos Rodón, who left with a two-run cushion. Mark Leiter Jr. was charged with three runs, while Guerrero’s go-ahead hit came off Jonathan Loáisiga.
Rodón was philosophical about the Yankees finishing June with a 13-14 record – their first losing month since July last year.
“It’s a wave; it’s up and down. We play 162 games for a reason. You just forget about tonight and try to go win tomorrow.”
New York’s record within the division is also underwhelming. They’re now 10-13 against AL East opponents but a strong 38-23 against everyone else.
Still, there were flashes of form. Chisholm belted his 14th homer – his fourth in five games – and Cody Bellinger followed up with a solo shot in the eighth. But the Yankees left two stranded and couldn’t find a way back in the ninth.
Injury concerns added to the blow. Fernando Cruz is out for at least a month with an oblique strain, catcher Austin Wells is undergoing tests for a circulatory issue, and Trent Grisham exited with a hamstring tweak.
“They’re great guys, great players,” said Volpe. “But we’ve got to keep moving and take it one day at a time.”
Photo: New York Yankees/Getty Images
