Manager Aaron Boone continues to struggle in his attempts to explain the freefall that the New York Yankees are going through the second-half of the season.
But he hopes New York's 9-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays Friday night at Tropicana Field was a wake-up call. «That's an embarrassing loss,» said the usually mild-mannered Boone. «Hopefully, one of those rock bottom situations, where you should be pissed off and embarrassed.
We've set a better standard around here. We just got to be better. Period.» The Yankees' 9-0 defeat was their biggest blowout loss this season.
That nine-run margin of defeat marked their largest loss since Oct 2, 2021, precisely against Tampa Bay (12-2). Three of the Yankees' last four losses by nine runs or more have come against the Rays. «It's just embarrassing when you get beat like that and you're going through the struggles you are,» Boone added. «I'm in charge of this team.