Yankees follow up lost weekend against lowly Orioles with Labor Day dud versus Toronto

NEW YORK — To the 30,000-plus fans gathered on Monday afternoon, it was soon apparent that the Yankees were taking the Labor Day holiday, too. 

There were boos for Joey Gallo, who struck out four more times, and for the hitless Gleyber Torres, who made one of three Yankees errors.

Marcus Semien and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. reached the Yankee Stadium seats before many of the fans, smacking first-inning homers against Jameson Taillon.

And the red-hot Toronto Blue Jays finished with a five-run ninth inning against reliever Brooks Kriske - including Semien's grand slam - to seal an 8-0 win against the lethargic Yanks.

Coming off a losing series against the last-place Baltimore Orioles, that's three straight losses for the Yankees (78-59) and seven in nine games after winning 13 in a row.

"Felt like for a little while there, we really couldn't lose if we tried,'' said Taillon, who lasted seven innings.

And here come the Blue Jays (74-62), winners of five straight, now just 3.5 games behind the Yanks in the AL wild card race with six head-to-head games left.

"When you're winning, you never think you're going to lose. And when you get into a little rut, it's hard to get out of it,'' said Anthony Rizzo, offering that the Yanks would grind through this choppy sea together. 

And for those seeking more of the sunny-side up version, ace Gerrit Cole takes the mound Tuesday, attempting to change the narrative. 

"That's a great place to start,'' Taillon said. 

Moving Gallo down the order 

Yet, the Yanks' lineup continues to disappoint, and the ensemble cast hasn't rallied around the sliding Aaron Judge (15 straight hitless at-bats) and Giancarlo Stanton (0-for-11 stretch).

Allowing just three hits Monday over six innings, Toronto lefty starter Hyun Jin Ryu "pitched us tough,'' said manager Aaron Boone. 

"But we've got to get it rolling, offensively. We've got to do better than that.''

Boone conceded that it might be time to drop Gallo from the No. 2 lineup spot, and that he'd consider giving the lefty slugger a day off. 

That rest could happen as early as Tuesday, with the Blue Jays scheduled to start lefty Steven Matz.

Gallo is in a 1-for-25 fog, though the lone hit was Friday's game-tying, eighth-inning homer in the Yanks' extra-inning win against Baltimore. 

"The last few games, maybe he's been chasing the result a bit (and) expanding the zone,'' Boone said, "instead of putting together the process of having a really good at-bat.''

Length from Taillon

On a day when Boone's bullpen needed a breather, Taillon's seven innings Monday represented his longest start since July 24, against the Red Sox.

Since capturing July's AL Pitcher of the Month award (4-0, 1.16 ERA in five starts), Taillon was 1-1 with a 5.52 ERA over his last six starts entering Monday.

Over that recent span, Taillon had surrendered six home runs in 31 innings.

And the Blue Jays jumped him early, as Semien and Guerrero Jr. belted back-to-back homers with one out in the first inning. 

It was Guerrero Jr.'s 40th homer of the year. Semien hit Nos. 36 and 37.

"Definitely not the start we wanted,'' said Taillon, though the right-hander became more pitch efficient as the game progressed and gave his sleepy team a chance.

In all, Taillon was charged with three runs on three hits and two walks, with five strikeouts. 

Overcoming errors

Adding to that early, sleep-walking feel, the Yankees infield committed three errors behind Taillon.

To Taillon's credit, none of them led to a run.

Following a shaky day at shortstop Sunday, Torres lost the handle on Lourdes Gurriel Jr.'s second-inning groundball as he made the transfer out of his glove.

After Gurriel Jr. was caught stealing, the usually surehanded third baseman Gio Urshela made the first of two errors Monday, mishandling a Danny Jansen bouncer toward the line.

In the third inning, Urshela bobbled and lost the handle on a potential inning-ending double play grounder hit by Guerrero Jr.

Urshela was making his first start since Aug. 31, after injuring his right hand/wrist on a throw at Anaheim.

Afterward, Urshela (1-for-3) said he was "100 percent'' physically, and that his hand issue had no impact on Monday's two misplays. 

But with runners at first and second, 38-year-old center fielder Brett Gardner made a sprawling catch of Bo Bichette's sinking liner and turned it into a double play. 

Gardner easily doubled off George Springer at second base to complete the DP.

Pitching updates

According to Boone, rookie Luis Gil is the Wednesday's probable starter against Toronto.

Adding a sixth man to their rotation this turn, Gil has not started for the Yankees since Aug. 17, taking a no-decision in the nightcap of a doubleheader against Boston.

Gil has yet to surrender a run over his first three MLB starts, covering 15.2 innings.

Luis Severino and Domingo German are scheduled to throw bullpen sessions Tuesday, in their continued comeback from right shoulder issues. 

German is considered to be closer to returning and could next face live hitters. 

If he's activated next week, German could provide a boost to a bullpen that has lost lefty Zack Britton for the season and is currently without Jonathan Loaisiga (rotator cuff strain).

Britton is scheduled for surgery Wednesday in Los Angeles to remove a bone chip from his left elbow, the second such procedure for Britton since March. 

Loaisiga has been shut down until about midweek next week, and is hoping to be activated before the end of the regular season. 

Pete Caldera is the Yankees beat writer for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to all Yankees analysis, news, trades and more, please subscribe today and download our app.

Email: caldera@northjersey.com Twitter: @pcaldera