The AL East-leading Yankees fell to 9-20 since entering the all-star break with a 64-28 record. After a 15 1/2-game surge on July 8, their lead over second-place Toronto is down to seven games. The Yankees have lost six straight for the first time since 1995, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Toronto will attempt a four-game sweep on Sunday. “We can ask all these questions about (our recession) until we’re blue in the face,” Boone said. “We’ve got to go out and do it. I’ve got to stop answering questions about this date and this embarrassment. We’ve got to play better, period. And the great thing is right in front of us. It’s right here and we can do it. fix.” “It’s there and we can run away with this thing and we put the guys in there to do it and we have to,” he said. Cole (9-6) hadn’t allowed a hit before the Blue Jays scored four times in the fifth. After drawing a walk and miscuing a pitch, Alejandro Kirk capped the inning with a two-run double that left fielder Andrew Benintendi couldn’t quite catch. When the inning ended, the fans booed Cole and the television cameras raised his right arm, shouting and slapping the bottom of the dugout roof with both hands. The reaction from portions of the crowd of 45,538 was similar to Cole’s with boos rising after Toronto’s lead and intensifying after the final out. Jackie Bradley hit a two-run double, the go-ahead double down the left-field line, the ball bouncing off the wall and past Benidenti when he attempted to throw the car. Bradley got it going after Toronto’s Santiago Espinal’s first hit, a two-pitch double after missing a two-strike near-pitch. JBJ = Blue Jay! His first RBI with the team 👏 pic.twitter.com/nAnE8ubSt5 —@BlueJays Raimel Tapia hit an infield hit, beating Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s throw to the arm and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. arrived when Cole slipped slightly in front of the mound, fielding the ball. Cole’s error allowed Guerrero to win the toss and the original call was overturned when Toronto challenged. Kirk then gave the Blue Jays a 4-1 lead when he lined a double to left center. Benidenti was playing slightly inside, stepped back, tried to make a diving catch and the ball slipped out of his glove before center fielder Estevan Florial threw it out to Guerrero to prevent a third run from scoring. Matt Chapman added a solo homer in the ninth as the Blue Jays won their fourth straight. Toronto is 13-6 in the Bronx since the start of last season. If it’s fair, it’s gone 😱 pic.twitter.com/9BWRDCinf7 —@BlueJays Florial hit an RBI single in the second and Gleyber Torres homered in the eighth as the Yankees pounded out nine hits but went 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position. New York has scored just 21 runs in its last 11 games. Before allowing four runs, Cole allowed two baserunners in the first four and was helped by defensive plays by Aaron Judge to righty and rookie third baseman Oswaldo Cabrera. Judge made a run to prevent Bo Bichette’s double in the second with his left shoulder landing on the fence. Cabrera dove face first into foul ground to catch Bradley’s popup and ended the game after his head hit the padding along the sidewall. Toronto starter Mitch White allowed one run and seven hits over four innings. Adam Cimber (9-4) got the win and Yimi Garcia picked up his first save. “He pitched a no-hitter until four and then I think we got him good enough to get the pitch count up and kind of plug him in there,” Toronto interim manager John Snyder said. The Blue Jays continue their series against the Yankees on Sunday in New York, with first pitch at 1:35 p.m. ET. Mitch White, Dirty Slider 87mph. 😨 pic.twitter.com/f4NqVPiLLc —@PitchingNinja
