Yanks stumble again in WC race with eighth straight loss to Red Sox

NEW YORK – Chewing on the aftermath of yet another forgettable showing Friday night, Aaron Boone bristled in his postgame remarks, saying that he didn’t like losing to anyone – but especially the Red Sox. Then he gestured toward a clock, noting that his Yankees would have an opportunity to reverse that narrative in a few short hours.

Boone cautioned that it would be no easy task, not with Boston handing the ball to ace Garrett Crochet. And once Friday evening turned into Saturday afternoon, the storyline played like a rerun, with Crochet striking out 11 as the Yanks absorbed a 12-1 defeat in the Bronx.

“We’ve got to play better,” captain Aaron Judge said. “That’s what it comes down to. Coaches can’t fix that, fans can’t fix that, media can’t fix that. It’s the players in this room. We’ve got to step up.”

The Yankees (69-60) have lost eight consecutive games to the Red Sox this season, dipping 1 1/2 games behind Boston (71-59) in the American League Wild Card chase. Over those eight games, Boston has outscored New York, 48-22.

“We’re not running out of time,” Boone said, “but if we don’t do better, then it’s going to fizzle out and we’re not going to get where we want to be.”

It has been, Boone admitted, a “really crappy weekend” – certainly not what they anticipated after a 5-0 road trip through St. Louis and Tampa. Against better competition, the Yankees have wilted: They’re 4-15 against the Red Sox and Blue Jays combined, the clubs ahead of them in the AL East.

“They’re a good team. So are we, but we have to execute in these games,” Giancarlo Stanton said. “We’ve got to execute in the division. And we haven’t done that.”

Will Warren was tagged for five runs and seven hits across four-plus innings. Trevor Story continued to build upon a growing reputation as a Yankee killer, doubling and homering in a three-RBI performance.

Over his past eight games against the Yankees, Story is 13-for-33 (.394) with six extra-base hits, 11 RBIs and eight runs scored.

“Tensions are high with the rivalry and all that, but we’re just playing good baseball, I think,” Story said. “We ran into them at the right time.”

Roman Anthony and Alex Bregman also lifted deep sacrifice flies off Warren, who walked three and struck out three.

“We’ve got to beat them, and we’re capable of beating them,” Warren said. “We’re just not playing like we should.”

Stanton’s fourth-inning home run – his 16th of the season – represented the offensive output against Crochet, who scattered five hits.

The AL Cy Young Award contender showcased his cutter, sweeper, sinker and four-seamer, striking out three in the first inning and repeating the feat in the seventh.

Judge struck out twice and flied out to the right-field wall against Crochet, adding an eighth-inning double off Greg Weissert.

While Judge said he feels “great” physically, he’s 12-for-55 (.218) with three homers, seven RBIs and 16 strikeouts since returning from a stint on the injured list with a right flexor strain.

Judge said he senses the elbow is “getting there,” though there is still no timetable for him to return to outfield play.

As Yankee Stadium emptied, the game grew more lopsided in the ninth, as Paul Blackburn allowed seven runs in his pinstriped debut. Blackburn joined the Yanks on Thursday after being designated for assignment by the Mets.

The frame featured an Anthony Volpe throwing error that drew boos. It was Volpe’s 17th error of the season, but his first since July 30.

“Volpe made an error, which was his first one in a few weeks. He’s been playing really well out there,” Boone said. “The story is getting shut down and not generating enough offensively, and struggling to hold them down.”

Judge said he was “definitely angry” following the loss, adding that the Yankees must stop giving teams extra outs and do a better job of capitalizing on scoring opportunities.

“Everybody’s got to play a little bit better, pick it up a notch, go out there and take care of business tomorrow,” Judge said. “There’s nothing we can do about the past 100-something games we’ve played. We’ve got to focus on what we can do now. That’s all we can do.”