Yankees fall into first-place tie with Blue Jays as furious rally falls short

TORONTO — And just like that, in painstaking fashion, the Yankees’ lead atop the AL East is gone.

There are still three months left for the standings to flip and flop across the final 70-plus games, but what was once a seven-game lead near the end of May became zero on Wednesday night as Aaron Boone’s club fell further into its summer slump.

For the first time since April 13, the Yankees are no longer in sole possession of first place in the division, now tied with the Blue Jays after dropping a third straight game to them, this one a crushing 11-9 loss at Rogers Centre.

The game seemed all but over after the first inning, when Will Warren dug them a 7-0 hole that soon became 8-0.

But the Yankees (48-38) nearly pulled off a stunning comeback, fighting all the way back to tie the game 9-9 in the eighth inning on Aaron Judge’s monstrous two-run shot before the Blue Jays (48-38) went back ahead in the bottom of the frame against Devin Williams, setting up a chance for a four-game sweep on Thursday.

With the top of the Blue Jays’ order due up in the bottom of the eighth, Boone called on Williams.

He struck out the first batter he faced before walking George Springer on five pitches.

Springer then stole second on the first pitch to Vladimir Guerrero Jr., which led the Yankees to intentionally walk Guerrero.

After Alejandro Kirk flew out to deep center, allowing both runners to move up 90 feet, Williams’ first pitch to Addison Barger was a changeup in the dirt that got past Ben Rice and allowed Springer to score from third for the 10-9 lead.

Barger then delivered an RBI single that scored Guerrero for the insurance run.

Judge had delivered a 440-foot home run, his 31st of the year, to tie the game in the top of the eighth.

The Blue Jays had been aggressive in intentionally walking him throughout the series, but opted to pitch to him in a 9-7 game with one out and a man on first, and Judge came through in epic fashion. 

But it was still not enough as the Yankees lost for the 13th time in their last 19 games.