OAKLAND, Calif. — When the Yankees pulled into the Bay Area on Monday to start a three-game series against the A’s, they had a 4 ½-game lead over their closest competitor in the chase for the top AL wild-card spot.
After a lackluster 6-3 Labor Day loss at the Coliseum, the cushion was reduced to 3 ½ lengths, and a sense of urgency had sprung from the bowels of a baseball stadium begging for the wrecking ball, as the A’s 28-14 ledger since the All-Star break was the best in baseball.
In losing for the fifth time in eight games, the Yankees collected four hits, committed a throwing error that led to an unearned run, went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and missed two chances to cut off balls in left-center.