PHOENIX – The math is only becoming more difficult for the Yankees, who had hoped to close their gap in the American League East ahead of this week’s upcoming four-game showdown against the Rays.
Instead, they face the very real prospect that Tampa Bay will soon celebrate a division crown in the Bronx, sending the Yankees into their second consecutive assignment to host the Red Sox in the AL Wild Card Series.
Nolan Arenado hit a fifth-inning grand slam off Brent Headrick as the Yankees absorbed an 8-4 loss on Sunday afternoon at Chase Field. With seven games remaining, New York trails Tampa Bay by six games in the division race.
Heliot Ramos, George Lombard Jr. and Spencer Jones all hit third-inning homers to chase Corbin Burnes early, with Lombard and Jones going back to back.
The rookies’ blasts traveled a combined Statcast-projected 872 feet; Lombard’s 424-footer was the longest of his career, which Jones followed with a 448-foot drive.
Will Warren allowed four runs on six hits and three walks over 4 1/3 innings. Yankees manager Aaron Boone confirmed that Warren will draw one more start during the regular season, set to face the Orioles, before transitioning to a bullpen role during the playoffs.
Headrick issued a bases-loaded walk to Corbin Carroll, then saw Arenado crush a drive just foul down the left-field line before pouncing on the next pitch for a grand slam that put Arizona ahead.