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Try it freeThere were issues with the Yankees starting pitcher, which were exacerbated by issues with the club’s second-string defense, which came before issues emerged concerning a late-inning arm.
Add it all up, and the Yankees simply did too much wrong to find the right result.
The Yankees offense and tenacity could not compensate for their other problems in a 10-7 loss to the Red Sox in The Bronx on Saturday in front of a sellout crowd of 47,020.
With no Anthony Volpe (sore elbow, though he pinch ran in the eighth) or Jazz Chisholm Jr. (rest, though he pinch hit in the seventh), the Yankees defense was spotty behind a pitcher in Ryan Yarbrough who does not have the type of stuff that creates much margin for error.
Ryan Yarbrough had his worst outing of the season, allowing eight runs in four innings in the Yankees’ 10-7 loss to the Red Sox on June 7, 2025. Corey Sipkin for New York PostAnd on a night when the Yankees bullpen needed to eat five innings, Ian Hamilton was not sharp in giving up two runs in the top of the ninth to halt what had looked to be an uprising.
The early deficit was too big to overcome on a night that featured a clear starting pitcher mismatch — which probably was to be expected with Yarbrough (whom the Yankees picked up on the scrap heap in March) against Garrett Crochet (whom the Red Sox extended for $170 million in March).
For the first time since dipping his toe into the rotation on April 11, Yarbrough was hit hard.
The Red Sox looked far more comfortable against the funky, junk-throwing lefty than the Dodgers did last weekend in an outing that spiked his ERA from 2.83 to 4.17.
“They put a lot of tough at-bats on him,” manager Aaron Boone said of Yarbrough, who allowed eight runs — the most by a Yankees starter this season — on nine hits and two walks in four innings. He left with the Yankees in a five-run ditch they could not fully escape, though they put the potential tying run on second in the eighth.
The Yankees fought back from an 8-3 hole beginning in the bottom of the fourth, when Austin Wells (who had drilled a three-run homer in the third) drove in another with an outfielder-splitting double.
A groundout from Pablo Reyes scored another, and the Yankees offense awoke again in the eighth.
Against former Yankee Justin Wilson, a rally formed with a walk to Ben Rice and Cody Bellinger, who advanced into scoring position.
With two outs, a throwback DJ LeMahieu singled up the middle to drive in two and narrow the gap to 8-7.
But with pinch runner Volpe on second, Wells struck out.
Trevor Story, who had five RBIs, rips a two-run double in the third inning of the Yankees’ loss to the Red Sox. Getty Images- CHECK OUT THE LATEST MLB STANDINGS AND YANKEES STATS
“A little bit short tonight, but I love the compete from our lineup up and down,” Boone said of an offense that got to Crochet (five runs in six innings).
The momentum disappeared in the ninth, when Hamilton allowed a walk and three straight singles — the final from Trevor Story, who drove in five.
“A little bit of a struggle,” Boone said of Hamilton, who now owns a 5.14 ERA. “Really not getting ahead [of hitters], and when he did, makes a mistake.”
Austin Wells belts a three-run homer in the second inning of the Yankees’ loss to the Red Sox. Robert Sabo for New York PostThe Yankees (39-24), who have won eight of their past nine series, would have to take Sunday night’s rubber game behind Carlos Rodón to keep the arrow pointing up.
Saturday’s defeat might have been decided in the third, which began with the Yankees ahead 3-1 before a nine-batter, five-run frame in which the makeshift left side of the infield did not look smooth.
On yet another World Series Game 5 flashback, Romy Gonzalez hit a ground ball into the shortstop hole with runners on first and second.
Ryan Yarbrough reacts after giving up a two-run homer to Romy González in the fourth inning of the Yankees’ loss to the Red Sox. Robert Sabo for New York PostFill-in shortstop Oswald Peraza and fill-in third baseman Reyes could not figure out what Volpe and Chisholm could not figure out in October.
Eight months later, Peraza and Reyes both gave chase, the ball getting past Reyes.
Peraza fielded and swung to Reyes, who at that point was too far off the bag to record the force out.
DJ LeMahieu, who had two hits and two RBIs, rips a single in the fourth inning of the Yankees’ win over the Red Sox. Corey Sipkin for New York Post“I don’t have an issue with the play,” Boone said, reasoning that Reyes believed he could reach the ground ball.
Yarbrough is not a flamethrower who can shrug off defensive miscues and throw heat past hitters.
A single from Abraham Toro then scored one run.
Story followed with a bullet that was sent directly at Reyes, who could not knock it down.
The ball deflected off his glove and rolled all the way to the wall to clear the bases.
“Tough play,” Boone said. “In fairness, [Reyes] hadn’t been out there a ton obviously.”
The lack of experience was not the Yankees’ only issue on the night.
