A toppled call at the plate in the eighth inning led to the latest loss in what might be the worst season for the New York Yankees in a decade.
The Yankees extended their losing streak to eight for the first time in 28 years, allowing Justin Turner’s ninth-inning go-ahead double in a 6-5 defeat to the Boston Red Sox on Sunday.
They are two games under .500 this late in a season for the first time since Aug. 31, 1995.
Well, that version of the Yankees finished with a 23-6 run to claim a wild-card playoff berth.
“We got to be unbelievable the rest of the way,” manager Aaron Boone said after the Yankees dropped to 60-64 and fell nine games behind Seattle for the AL’s last wild card spot.
New York appeared to break a 5-5 tie in the eighth when Isiah Kiner-Falefa scored from first on rookie Anthony Volpe’s single.
Plate umpire Junior Valentine signaled safe, ruling Kiner-Falefa’s left foot got in ahead of Connor Wong’s tag, reversed in a video review, which also upheld the catcher did not block the plate in violation of rules.
“From the get-go, I thought he was out,” said Boston manager Alex Cora, who had been ejected two innings earlier for arguing a called third strike and watched the play from the clubhouse. “I was wondering why Junior was waiting. He waited to call him safe, and I was like, what is he doing.”
Swept in consecutive series by Atlanta and Boston, the Yankees have lost eight straight games for the first time since Aug 1995, when Buck Showalter’s team fell to 53-58 before finishing 26-7 for a wild card spot.
“Every loss at this point is tough,” Volpe said.
Turner had four RBIs for Boston, which is 8-1 against the Yankees this year, and has won seven in a row against New York.
“They just got the better of us,” Kiner-Falefa said. “I feel like they’re swinging the bats well. They have a good game plan pitching. They’re just better than us right now.”
With a score of 5-5, Pablo Reyes singled off Clay Holmes (4-4), led off the ninth and stole second, and Alex Verdugo walked. Turner doubled to the right-field warning track on a sinker.
“He’s a good hitter,” Cora said. “He’s a great leader, and I’m glad he’s playing for us.”
Turner’s first hit this season gave the Red Sox a lead in the ninth or later and the 16th of his career.
Turner is hitting .372 with runners in scoring position in his first year with Boston following a decade with the Dodgers. He is batting .395 against the Yankees.
The Red Sox swept a series in the Bronx for the second time in three seasons. Boston won for the eighth time in 11 games and remained three behind Seattle.
Chris Martin (4-1) allowed two hits in a scoreless eighth, and Kenley Jansen got his 29th save in 32 chances.
The Red Sox are 6-1 against the Yankees this year and have won the past five meetings.
“We’re a good offensive team, and we believe that,” Boston manager Alex Cora said. “It hasn’t happened. Hopefully, this time everybody clicks, and we can go on a run.”
