Yankees pitching unravels in loss as Red Sox split series

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Yankees pitching unravels in loss as Red Sox split series

BOSTON – Baseball’s best team looked normal for the past two nights at Fenway Park.

There was sloppy fielding, poor pitching and plenty of other mistakes as the Yankees watched the Red Sox beat them in comeback fashion on consecutive nights and ended with a series split after an 11-6 loss Sunday night.

After watching his team lose a big lead early on, it was hard to blame Aaron Boone for getting kicked out as the coach was ejected by home plate umpire Tripp Gibson after Giancarlo Stanton was caught as he attempted to finish the top of seventh place.

But the Yankees’ problems ran deeper than questionable calls, as Jameson Taillon was bad again, they gave up a season-high 11 runs and their defense was abysmal.

All of this allowed Boston to beat the Yankees from behind in front of sold-out crowds on consecutive nights, as the Red Sox hit nine unanswered runs on Sunday.

Jameson Taillon reacts after conceding a home run in the third inning.
Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

It ended the Yankees’ 10-game four-city road trip, leaving them 61-25 in the season and a 14-game lead over second-placed Boston.

Taillon, twice seeded to four runs, gave up six runs — as well as a season-high three homers — in five innings. It was his fourth consecutive underperforming outing.

“I’m kind of taking it on the chin right now,” Taillon said. “I feel like I’m in the ‘Twilight Zone’. I keep saying the same thing and the same mistakes keep happening.”

The Yankees got off to a quick start when Aaron Judge led a single and Stanton hit a two-out homer on Nick Pivetta, his 22nd of the season.

Jose Trevino and Isiah Kiner-Falefa added to the 4-0 in the second RBI singles.

But the home run ball caught Taillon again.

After giving up four home runs in his last three starts, Taillon allowed Franchy Cordero a two-out, two-run shot at the end of the second.

Aaron Boone argues with referee Jerry Layne.
Aaron Boone argues with referee Jerry Layne.
Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
Giancarlo Stanton reacts after a hip third shot in the seventh inning.
Giancarlo Stanton reacts after a hip third shot in the seventh inning.
Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

However, Matt Carpenter hit a two-run homer in the third, giving Taillon another four-run cushion.

It didn’t last.

Christian Vazquez took him deep with two outs in the third.

Then, with two outs in the fifth, Vazquez laced up a run-scoring double before JD Martinez hammered Taillon’s next pitch into the right-center seats to bring the Red Sox all the way back.

“That was probably the biggest mistake on the biggest spot of the night,” Taillon said. “It feels pretty bad. I’m being spotted by offense with a nice lead and that should be pretty much a guaranteed win and I should get into the game a lot deeper. … It’s not a good situation to be in.”

JD Martinez, 28, celebrates after scoring a double homer.
JD Martinez, 28, celebrates after scoring a double homer.
Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

It also continued a worrying stretch for Taillon, who has given up 27 runs over 35 ²/₃ innings for a 6.81 ERA in his last seven starts after having a 2.30 ERA in his first 10 games. He’s also allowed 20 earned runs in his last 21 innings.

Aroldis Chapman lined up sixth as the Yankees try to determine a role for the left-hander.

Trevor Story hit a high pop-up on the flat right to derive the inning, but DJ LeMahieu, who switched to second base, couldn’t come up with the catch and it went for a single.

After Cordero left, former Yankee Rob Refsnyder hit for Bradley Jr. and left to load the bases.

Chapman punched Bobby Dalbec before pinch-hitter Jeter Downs slammed a ball down flat center where LeMahieu missed again. It was about picking an outfield player when Story got the go-ahead.

“It was two types of hard tracks, do-or-die tracks, really,” LeMahieu said. “I just couldn’t handle them.”

Jeter Downs hits a pop-up that DJ LeMahieu fails to catch in the sixth inning.
Jeter Downs hits a pop-up that DJ LeMahieu fails to catch in the sixth inning.
Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

Miguel Castro loaded bases in the seventh – thanks in part to a Kiner Falefa throwing error – and gave Story a three-run double.

On the plus side for the Yankees, after Monday’s rest day, they will face bottom-last Cincinnati for three games — despite the Reds winning four in a row — before the Red Sox attend three games before the All-Star stoppage .

“We’re going to try to end the first half in a good way at home,” Boone said.

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