NEW YORK — Should the Yankees handle the next two items on their to-do list, securing entry to the American League Wild Card Game and then winning that contest, their reward will be a best-of-five showdown against the Rays in the American League Division Series.
Friday’s performance served as a reminder of how challenging that task will be. Their bats cold after the first inning, Joey Gallo and Brett Gardner delivered run-scoring hits in the ninth, but the rally fell short as the Yankees opened their final regular-season homestand with a 4-3 loss to Tampa Bay at Yankee Stadium.
“It was a close loss to a really good team,” Gallo said. “We control our own destiny, so we’ve got to go about these next two games and keep that same mentality. Win these games and we’re good.”
The Yankees’ lead for the first Wild Card spot was trimmed to one game over the Red Sox, who won at Washington. The Blue Jays also won, defeating the Orioles, and they are one game behind the Red Sox with two regular-season games remaining. The Mariners lost to the Angels to fall one game behind Boston, which reduced New York’s magic number to one for clinching a Wild Card berth.
“We need these next two, for sure,” said Giancarlo Stanton, who stroked two hits and drove in a run. “Tonight is over with. We’ve got another one in 12 hours or so.”
Making his first appearance since July 31, Domingo Germán pitched a scoreless eighth inning. Yankees manager Aaron Boone attempted to squeeze more from the right-hander, who walked the Nos. 8 and 9 hitters, Francisco Mejía and Kevin Kiermaier, with one out in the ninth inning.
“He’s going to be in some difficult situations,” Boone said. “We’ve got to lean on everyone down there. The walks hurt to knock him out of the game, but I thought overall he threw the ball pretty well.”
Boone had warmed left-hander Aroldis Chapman and considered using left-hander Lucas Luetge, but he opted to bring in right-hander Albert Abreu, reasoning that he preferred to see switch-hitting rookie Wander Franco from the left side.
Abreu induced Randy Arozarena to hit into a fielder’s choice, but Franco hammered a two-run single to center field that opened a three-run Tampa Bay lead, with the runs being charged to Germán.
“I just felt like, matchup-wise, it was good,” Boone said. “I thought Albert did a good job of getting Arozarena out and then he puts Franco on the ground there. He just found a hole with it.”
The Yankees weren’t done. Facing right-hander Andrew Kittredge, Stanton belted a one-out double to left-center field. The Rays used a four-man outfield against Gallo, leaving the left side of the infield unprotected. Stanton dashed to third base on defensive indifference, then Gallo dropped a perfect bunt up the third-base line for an RBI single.
“I just bunted on my own,” Gallo said. “It’s just instinctual when I think it’s the right time to do it. I felt that was a pretty important time to do it there, to get baserunners on and keep the line moving.”
Gio Urshela ripped a single and so did Gardner, moving the potential tying run to second base. Kittredge struck out pinch-hitter Gary Sánchez and Rougned Odor, sealing the Rays’ 10th victory in 17 tries against the Yankees this season.
“They were making good pitches, staying on the corners, not leaving too many pitches over the plate,” Stanton said. “When you can execute like that, you’re going to neutralize a good lineup. They’ll make mistakes, and we’ve got to capitalize.”
Left-hander Nestor Cortes started for the Yankees, limiting Tampa Bay to two runs and five hits over 4 2/3 innings. Nelson Cruz slugged a first-inning homer, his 32nd, and Kiermaier stroked a second-inning RBI single off Cortes. The left-hander walked none and struck out five.
Rays starter Shane McClanahan tossed three innings, touched in the first by Gleyber Torres’ leadoff double — a 111.6 mph bullet that marked the hardest-hit ball of the infielder’s career. Stanton continued his sizzling stretch by knocking Torres home, but the Yanks were held to three singles from the second inning until the ninth.
“You play 162 games for this reason — it all comes down to the final two games,” Cortes said.
