TORONTO — Based on the Yankees’ level of jubilation and the volume of alcohol poured into and over them after they clinched a playoff berth Saturday night, perhaps it was not surprising what happened the next day.
The Blue Jays, in what was likely Jose Bautista’s final home game as a Toronto player, pounded the sluggish Yankees, 9-5, on Sunday and significantly enhanced the Boston Red Sox’s chances of winning the American League East.
Combined with Boston’s 5-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds, the Yankees’ loss left them five games behind the division-leading Red Sox with only seven to play, making a dreaded one-game wild card playoff seem all but assured.