The Yankees appeared destined to head into the All-Star break in first place in the AL East with a sweep of divisional rival Baltimore Orioles to salvage an otherwise painful stretch of baseball to end the first half.
But there was more pain to come.
After Ben Rice blasted a clutch, three-run home run off of Orioles closer Craig Kimbrel in the top of the ninth to put the Yankees up 5-3, it all collapsed in the bottom half of the inning when Clay Holmes allowed three runs, with no help from his defense, for Baltimore to win 6-5 and head into the break a game ahead of the Yankees in the division.
Holmes allowed a single, got a force out at second, then allowed a walk before getting Gunnar Henderson to strikeout for the second out of the game.
With one out left, Holmes walked Adley Rutschman to load the bases but then got Ryan Mountcastle to hit a slow bouncer to Anthony Volpe. But the Gold Glove shortstop waited for the ball to come to him, then couldn’t get it out of his glove on the transfer, dropping it between his legs to allow a run to score and the bases to remain loaded.
Cedric Mullins pinch-hit the next at-bat and lofted a fly ball into left field that should have been an easy out. But Alex Verdugo took his first step in before backtracking and stumbling, allowing the ball to fall over his head and the Orioles to win the game.
“It’s the wrong first step,” Verdugo said after the game. “I take a lot of pride defensively. This one’s on me.”
It was still the Yankees’ first series win since taking three of four from the Royals a month ago, but they head into the break at 58-40 – going 8-18 since becoming the first team in baseball to win 50 games on June 14.