This was the extent of the Yankees’ offense Tuesday night: an Alex Rodriguez solo home run in the sixth.
For Rodriguez, it was No. 30 in his amazing year, the 15th time in his career he has hit 30 or more home runs. He tied Hank Aaron for the most 30-home-run seasons in major league history.
Of course, it’s been quite the career — blemishes and all.
Tuesday was one of those rare nights the Yankees were out-homered by the opposition, and it added up to a 2-1 loss to the Orioles at steamy Yankee Stadium before 30,785 quiet fans.
The news on Mark Teixeira gets worse by the day. Right-hander Nathan Eovaldi is done for the rest of the regular season with elbow inflammation. The Blue Jays beat the Red Sox to move 1½ games ahead of the Yankees. A great effort by Masahiro Tanaka was wasted.
The Mets won another thriller and continue to take center stage in New York.
Ryan Flaherty homered in the sixth off Tanaka, and the Yankees’ bullpen was mortal, with Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller taking a break as Chasen Shreve gave up the game-winning homer to Chris Davis, his major league-leading 41st, in the ninth.
There are so many challenges ahead for the Yankees.
Rodriguez admitted it’s “very tough’’ to lose a game in which Tanaka allowed just one run over eight innings.
“Tanaka was outstanding,’’ he said. “In a tight race you are going to win some great games, you are going to win some emotional games and you are going to lose some tough games. It’s just one game.
“Nobody is going to feel sorry for us. Everyone has injuries. One of the great things [general manager Brian] Cashman has done is he has built a very good roster here — one through 40.’’
Rodriguez went on to praise Luis Severino and said of Adam Warren: “I don’t care if we have Adam pitching Game 1, 3 or 7 in the playoffs, I think we are going to win that game.’’
Another day, another milestone.
“It’s great,’’ Rodriguez said of matching Aaron. “I didn’t have many expectations, but right now I’m focusing on every at-bat of just trying to help the team win.’’
That is a challenge that grows more difficult, especially with Cashman noting the news on Teixeira’s bone bruise is not good. Cashman said Teixeira is feeling “nerve issues running up and down his leg, so he’s still on crutches. No guarantees. I do wonder [if he’ll be back this year].’’
That means there will be even more on Rodriguez’s plate down the stretch.
The Yankees are in a position where they have to count even more on Rodriguez than earlier in the season. Rookie Greg Bird has done a good job, but Teixeira carried the team much of the season.
“You know how important Tex is, you know how I feel about him, and what he means to this clubhouse on and off the field and both sides of the ball,’’ Rodriguez said. “Birdie has been doing a great job. We have to keep rolling.’’
Can the Yankees keep rolling with this latest string of injuries?
Is it too much to have Rodriguez, who picked up two of the Yankees’ six hits Tuesday night, to carry such a load down the stretch and into the postseason if the Yankees can get there?
Those two hits moved Rodriguez ahead of Rickey Henderson into 22nd place on the all-time list with 3,056.
The home run was the fourth in the last five games for A-Rod on this homestand.
Times have changed in many ways for Rodriguez. He used to be the one in the middle of Scott Boras’ controversies. Now it’s Matt Harvey.
The Yankees will have to club their way into October. Brett Gardner is dealing with a sore left shoulder and did not play.
Rodriguez, 40, was energized by the days off in Atlanta.
“One of the good things about getting old is having some perspective,’’ Rodriguez said.
Indeed. This old man will have to part the sea.
