Yankees' playoff quest is still in question after being destroyed Saturday by the Rays

NEW YORK – After 161 games played across six months, the 2021 Yankees had not clinched anything, except a reputation for doing the maddeningly unexpected.

More on that a little later.

Because on Saturday afternoon, the Yankees made trouble for themselves in a big way, by letting the Tampa Bay Rays – a team in exhibition mode – trample them again.

"Here we are going into Game 162 not knowing what the future looks like,'' Brett Gardner said after a 12-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.

"We got embarrassed (Saturday) and it’s not a good feeling.''

Brandon Lowe’s first-inning blast on a three-homer, seven-RBI day set a lousy tone at Yankee Stadium, where 41,648 fans had plenty to justify their anger – from Jordan Montgomery’s ineffective start to Gleyber Torres’ latest display of casual baserunning.

By the time Torres loafed to first base, though, the Yanks were down by a touchdown and a field goal and were stuck with a magic number of one to clinch a postseason berth.

With at least a worst-case guarantee of a Monday play-in game, the Yankees will save Gerrit Cole and start Jameson Taillon - coming off a re-aggravated right ankle injury Tuesday - for Sunday's Game 162 against the Rays. 

Taillon should be on a short leash Sunday, with the likes of Luis Severino, Jonathan Loaisiga and all of Boone’s high leverage relievers in play.

“We’ve got to come out and play well and take it and punch our ticket (Sunday),’’ manager Aaron Boone said sharply. “That’s how we’ve got to look at it.’’

Math problems 

Before getting into crazy scenarios, a win by the Yankees (91-69) Sunday would put them in Tuesday’s wild card game.

The Red Sox's victory Saturday put them in a wild-card tie with the Yanks, though Boston now controls where that game would be played. Right now, that venue is Fenway Park.

Toronto (90-71) won its game Saturday, further preventing the Yankees' from clinching. And the Mainers (89-71) played later on Saturday. 

And the possibility exists for the Yankees to require a Monday play-in game to qualify for the wild card, with Cole going on regular rest - just to get them to another elimination game. 

In other words, the Yanks have made a complete mess of things while playing a Rays team that has already clinched the AL East crown and home field advantage through the AL Championship Series.

Gardner kept any postgame team discussions private, but “at this point there’s really not a whole lot ot say.

“It’s a matter of each and every one of us, starting with me, showing up and doing their job.’’

Crazy swings 

If there’s a jagged road, these Yankees will take it.

They had a team built to win the AL East and didn’t come close.

They were 41-41 at the halfway mark and looked like a trade-deadline seller.

They won 13 straight games in August and appeared to hit their stride.

They lost 11 of their next 13 games and appeared to hit a wall again.

They went 11-8 against the lowly Orioles and played under .500 against the rest of their division.

At their most critical hour, they went a combined 5-1 at Boston and Toronto and came home on the verge of a postseason berth and likely to host the wild card game.

But after Friday night’s 4-3 loss to Tampa Bay, the Yanks fell into a six-run hole by Saturday’s third inning.

Gardner admitted the club has “not played up to our expectations,’’ but “as bad as (Saturday) hurts, we’re not that far removed from playing some really, really good baseball against some really good teams.’’

Coming up short 

Montgomery picked a terrible time to have his worst start of the year, with a season low 2.2 innings and season highs with seven earned runs and three homers allowed.

Two of those home runs were belted by Lowe, whose three-run shot jolted the lefty with two out in the first inning.

Lowe smashed another three-run homer in the third and Mike Zunino immediately followed with a shot to left, giving Tampa Bay a 7-1 lead.

“Got behind, didn’t execute many pitches,’’ said Montgomery, who had defeated the Rays in his three previous starts this year, yielding just two runs in 17.1 innings.

“Just (stinks). I wanted to give our guys a better outing.’’

In a four-run seventh, Lowe’s solo homer off Michael King was his 39th of the year. Three batters later, Austin Meadows’ three-run shot off Joely Rodriguez had officially stamped Saturday as a laugher.

Only, the remaining Yankees fans were not having a good time, and Torres gave them something to really simmer about to end the seventh.

Injury:Yankees' DJ LeMahieu dealing with sports hernia injury at worst possible time

Slow play 

On a third strike that got past the catcher, Torres jogged out of the box and kept his walking pace, even while looking behind to see Zunino pick up the ball and throw him out at first base.

Torres only accelerated on the last few steps, and the sparse crowd really let him have it.

“First off, you’ve got to run,’’ said Boone, offering Torres’ explanation that his first inclination was that first base was occupied and he wasn’t entitled to it.

Except, there were two out.

“(It’s) something you’ve got to know and be on top of it, something he also feels terrible about,’’ Boone said. “And we’ve got to learn from.’’

Asked if he considered pulling Torres from the game, Boone did not directly answer, other than to say he needed bench depth because of the possibility of having a position player pitch the ninth inning.

If needed, Boone said that Rizzo was ready to take the mound.

Boone has disciplined Torres this year for similar trangressions. The Yanks were already down an infielder with DJ LeMahieu (sports hernia) sidelined for a second straight game Saturday, requiring the recall of Andrew Velazquez, who started at shortstop. 

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