With feeble comeback attempt in 9th, Yankees lose again to Rays

The Yankees lost their third straight series to the lowly Rays, falling 3-1 at Yankee Stadium on Thursday.

NEW YORK — In another time, this would’ve been another dramatic come-from-behind victory. Would’ve happened last season. Probably earlier in this season, too.

But not these Yankees. Not this team that keeps falling further and further behind the Red Sox in the AL East, slowly jeopardizing the quest for a wild-card spot.

Not these Yankees with these feeble bats.

Leaving the bases loaded in the ninth with a pop out and two ugly swinging strikeouts, the Yankees lost, 3-1, to the mediocre Tampa Rays at Yankee Stadium on Thursday to fall 10.5 games behind Boston.

Lefty Adam Kolarek saved the game after Sergio Romo allowed consecutive singles to Didi Gregorius and Gleyber Torres in the ninth. Romo walked Neil Walker on four pitches, then was replaced by Kolarek, a side-arming lefty.

With the game on the line, first baseman Greg Bird popped out in foul territory on the first pitch — a questionable strategy — and Brett Gardner and Austin Romine weakly struck out, when two ground balls might’ve tied the game.

Tampa Bay had lost 12 straight series in the Bronx, reaching back to 2014, a record since the ballpark opened in 2009.

What it means

The Yankees fell to 75-46. The Rays improved to 62-59.

It was the Yankees’ third straight series loss to the Rays. Tampa swept them in three games in June and beat them in two of three games in July. The Rays have beaten the Yankees in seven of their last nine contests.

The Yankees are now 27-26 vs. the American League East, where they started the day 10 games back of the first-place Red Sox and 3 1/2 games up on the A’s for the chance to host the Wild Card.

Weak, late rally

In the ninth, Sergio Romo, who was working into his second inning, loaded the bases with no outs with a pair of singles to Didi Gregorius and Gleyber Torres and then a walk to Neil Walker.

Greg Bird popped out to third-base foul territory on the first pitch he saw from lefty Adam Kolarek, who entered the game with a 6.00 ERA. And Brett Gardner struck out swinging before Austin Romine did it, ending the game.

Giancarlo Stanton’s confusing drive to right field cut the Yankees’ deficit to two in the eighth inning. With two outs and Aaron Hicks (single, error) on second base, Stanton hit line drive down the line.

It sliced and hit the yellow foul marking on the corner wall. But first base umpire Greg Bison, somehow, called it a home run. Even Stanton was in disbelief, shrugging and laughing as he walked off the field after rounding the bases.

The umpired talked it over and then let replay officials handle it. The call was overturned. Stanton was sent to second base and Hicks scored. Boone had a problem with some part of the call, spending more than a minute in a heated discussion with the plate umpire before giving it a rest.

Miguel Andujar killed the rally, grounding out to shortstop.

Stagnant offense

Giancarlo Stanton was stranded at second base after doubling in the first inning. Kyle Higashioka, who had singled, was left standing at third base in the second frame.

The Yankees had just one more base runner until the eighth. That was Aaron Hicks, who beat out and infield single to start the sixth.

Falling behind early

It looked like it would be a long day for Tanaka after the first inning. And in some ways it was, though he ultimately settled down and didn’t allow a run his last six innings.

The Rays hammered Tanaka for two runs on two singles and two run-scoring doubles from Joey Wendle and Tommy Pham, respectively.

Tampa’s first four batters recorded hits off Tanaka, who was helped when Jake Bauers was thrown out at home on Pham’s double. Tanaka needed 24 pitches to get through the frame. He threw 68 pitches over his final frames.

Tanaka, who also struck out six and walked none, was bested by counterpart Blake Snell. Though the Yankees usuall pound lefties, Snell threw five shutout innings, striking out six and walking one.

Tanaka rebounded nicely from his disastrous six-run, five-inning effort vs. the Rangers at home Friday. It was Tanaka’s sixth outing of six innings and two or less runs in 20 starts.

Mig-E

Third baseman Miguel Andujar’s defensive warts showed again when he committed his sixth error since July 31 and 13th on the season.

With a runner on first base and no outs, Wendle tried to sacrifice bunt. Andujar had trouble picking up the ball. Then he made a careless sidearm throw that hit Wendle in the back.

That put runners on the corners for Bauers, who also dropped a sac bunt, this time down the first base line. Mallex Smith, who singled to start the inning, scored and it was 3-zip Rays.

Helping himself

Tanaka picked off two runners. In the fifth, he picked a runner off first base by an inch for the second out. Tanaka also ended the sixth inning with a spinning pickoff at second base.

Next

Yankees righty Lance Lynn (8-8, 4.46 ERA) vs. Blue Jays starting pitcher to be named at 7:05 p.m. at Yankee Stadium on Friday.

(The AP contributed to this report.)

Brendan Kuty may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanKutyNJ. Find NJ.com Yankees on Facebook.