NEW YORK — Yankees ace Gerrit Cole hit the roof of the dugout twice, yelling in frustration and enduring cheers from the crowd. New York lost for the 15th time in 19 games, falling 5-2 against the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday.
The AL East leaders fall to 9-20 and are 64-28 overall since the All-Star Game. They held a 15 1/2-game lead over second-place Toronto on July 8, but that gap is now down to seven games.
The Yankees have lost six straight for the first time since 1995, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Toronto will try to sweep the four-game series this Sunday.
Kohli (9-6) held the Blue Jays scoreless four times until the fifth inning.
The pitcher gave up a walk and mishandled a ground ball before Alejandro Kirk started the offensive explosion with a two-run double that fielder Andrew Benintendi couldn’t catch.
After the episode ended, fans booed Cole and cameras captured the right-hander screaming and hitting the roof of the den.
Adam Simper (9-4) got the win, Yimi Garcia got the save.
For the Blue Jays, Dominicans Raimel Tapia went 4-1 with one run, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. went 4-2, Teoscar Hernandez went 3-0 and Santiago Espinal went 4-1.
For the Yankees, Venezuela’s Kleyber Torres went 4-1 with a run scored and Osvaldo Cabrera 4-0 with an RBI.
