The New York Yankees kicked off a crucial series in Toronto with a frustrating 4-1 loss to the Blue Jays on Monday night, undone by a costly fifth inning and a quiet night at the plate.
Carlos Rodón held Toronto scoreless through four, working around multiple jams, including two bases-loaded threats. But the fifth inning unraveled fast. After a leadoff walk and a single, Bo Bichette delivered a two-run double to put Toronto ahead. With two outs, the Yankees’ defense broke down, Oswald Peraza and Anthony Volpe committed back-to-back throwing errors on routine plays, leading to two unearned runs and a 4-1 deficit.
Rodón lasted five innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits and a season-high five walks. He struck out four but needed 107 pitches to get through the outing.
The Yankees’ offense couldn’t pick him up. Giancarlo Stanton provided the lone highlight with a solo home run in the fourth, his fifth of the season, but the bats were largely silenced by Kevin Gausman, who struck out eight over seven innings. New York’s best chance to rally came in the eighth, but a lineout by Stanton and an inning-ending groundout from Jasson Domínguez, now hitless in his last 18 at-bats, squandered the opportunity.
The loss drops the Yankees to 55-45 and four games back of the first-place Blue Jays, who have now won 11 straight at home.
New York (55-45) will look to even the three-game series on Tuesday when rookie Cam Schlittler takes the ball, making his second big-league start. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:07 p.m.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].