Bullpen Implosion Didn't Need to Happen, Did Happen, Yankees Lose to Blue Jays

Let's not kid ourselves: Last night's game at the Rogers Centre in Toronto was the Yankees' worst game of the season thus far.

James Paxton started, and didn't have much. He allowed 2 runs in the 1st inning, another in the 2nd (on an RBI single by Cavan Biggio, so Craig's son joins Vladimir Guerrero Jr. as 2nd-generation players beating the Yankees), and another (error-aided) in the 5th, before he was taken out.

Certainly, the Yankees tried. Gary Sanchez hit a home run in the 4th inning. Brett Gardner tried to activate a Cliche Alert by drawing a leadoff walk in the 5th. Gio Urshela singled. Cameron Maybin singled Gardner home. DJ LeMahieu singled Urshela home. Luke Voit walked to load the bases. Sanchez singled home Maybin. That gave the Yankees a 4-3 lead.

But that was as far as it got: Kendrys Morales and Gleyber Torres struck out to end the rally. And the Jays tied it in their half of the inning when Vlad Jr. singled and Urshela committed an error.

LeMahieu homered in the 6th, Clint Frazier and Maybin having singled before him, and it was 7-4 Yankees. Things were looking good.

But, perhaps on orders from Brian Cashman, Aaron Boone played musical chairs with the bullpen again. Adam Ottavino finished the 5th and pitched into the 6th. Tommy Kahnle finished the 6th. But instead of letting Kahnle pitch into the 7th, Boone brought Jonathan Holder in, and he was victimized by an error, then hit a batter and allowed a double to make it 7-6 New York. Boone brought Zack Britton on, and he finished the inning.

He kept Britton in for the 8th, but it was a disaster. After he got Freddy Galvis to ground out, he allowed a single to Danny Jansen, a walk to Lourdes Gurriel, and a home run to Vlad Jr. 9-7 Toronto.

At that point, Boone should have taken Britton out, and brought in a pitcher who was not Luis Cessa. Instead, he left Britton in to face Justin Smoak, who grounded to 2nd. And then he took Britton out. Dumb move. And replaced him with Cessa. Dumber move. Cessa allowed back-to-back home runs to Randal Grichuk and Brandon Drury.

It was a bullpen implosion, and it did not have to happen.

According to Baseball-Reference.com, the Yankees had an 88 percent chance of winning the game in the 7th inning, and a 59 percent chance before Vlad Jr.'s homer. Instead, because Boone followed orders, it ended Blue Jays 11, Yankees 7. WP: Sam Gaviglio (4-1). No save. LP: Britton (2-1).

The series concludes tonight. J.A. Happ starts against Edwin Jackson.