Yankees swept by Braves, fall below .500 for first time in '23 - ESPN

ATLANTA — While the Atlanta Braves focus on 100 wins, the New York Yankees' new goal is shaking their losing record.

Charlie Morton recorded 10 strikeouts in six innings, Eddie Rosario hit a two-run homer and the Braves beat New York 2-0 on Wednesday night to complete a three-game sweep and drop the struggling Yankees below .500 for the first time this season.

New York (60-61) was left with a five-game losing streak after being outscored 18-3 in the sweep, capped by back-to-back shutouts for the first time this season. The Braves (78-42) have thrown four shutouts in their last seven games to boost the majors' best record.

«To be able to sweep the Yankees is another great accomplishment,» closer Raisel Iglesias said through a translator after his perfect ninth inning. «It's another step to try to get to 100 wins as quickly as possible.»

It is the first time the last-place Yankees have had a losing record at least 120 games into a season since Sept. 5, 1995, when they also were 60-61, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. It is their first losing record at any point since they were 13-14 in 2021.

The Yankees, who haven't missed the playoffs since 2016, began the night 6½ games back of the AL's last wild card berth. New York has finished with a winning record in 30 consecutive seasons.

New York manager Aaron Boone said it's not too late to salvage the season.

«The game is still littered with examples of teams going on unlikely runs,» Boone said.

«I get it looks bleak and I don't want to even suggest that we're in a position to even talk about a streak like that. We've got to fix our own house and get going. But there's a lot of season left, too, and we've got to look at it that way.»

The Yankees, held to one hit in