By Tiffany Williams –
BRONX, N.Y. — The Yankees dropped their third consecutive game Saturday afternoon, falling 9-4 to the Philadelphia Phillies in the Bronx. The loss not only clinched the series for Philadelphia — their first in New York since 2015 — but also continued a troubling slide for the Yankees, who have now allowed 20 runs over their last three games.
Right-hander Marcus Stroman took the loss after a rocky outing, surrendering four earned runs in just 3.2 innings. After a strong run of four straight starts with at least five innings and no more than three runs allowed, Stroman struggled with his command and fell behind in counts, walking four and giving up a home run in the early going.
Giancarlo Stanton provided the offensive highlight for New York with a two-run home run in the seventh inning, his seventh of the season and 436th of his career — passing Carlos Beltrán for 47th on the all-time list. Stanton has now homered six times in his last 12 games, swinging one of the hottest bats in the Yankees’ lineup. He’s hitting .333 with a .778 slugging percentage during that stretch, showing signs of rounding into vintage form as the second half heats up.
Jasson Domínguez chipped in with an RBI single in the fourth inning, and Anthony Volpe collected a pair of hits as he continues his recent hot streak. Jazz Chisholm Jr., recently acquired to bolster the middle infield, posted another multi-hit game, raising his average to .303 over his last 41 contests. Third baseman Ryan McMahon also made his Yankees debut, going 1-for-3 with a walk and a single in the sixth.
Despite some individual bright spots, the Yankees’ offense couldn’t keep pace with Philadelphia’s relentless attack. The Phillies scored in four separate innings, capitalizing on both timely hits and Yankees miscues. Bryce Harper homered for the 15th time this season and stole his 10th base, becoming just the sixth active player with 350 career homers and 150 steals. His third-inning blast sparked a five-run outburst that put New York in a hole it couldn’t climb out of.
Ranger Suárez, meanwhile, continued to dominate on the road for Philadelphia. The left-hander tossed 5.2 innings of one-run ball, striking out eight and improving to 5-3 with a 1.48 ERA away from Citizens Bank Park this year. He threw a season-high 108 pitches and limited the Yankees to seven hits, mixing his fastball and changeup effectively to keep New York hitters off balance.
The Phillies added insurance runs in the seventh, punctuated by a 110.6 mph, two-run homer from Edmundo Sosa — the hardest-hit home run of his career. JT Realmuto, Trea Turner, and Kyle Schwarber all contributed with multi-hit performances and key RBIs, while Johan Rojas drew a bases-loaded walk to push across another run in the fourth.
The Yankees’ bullpen couldn’t hold the line, giving up five earned runs after Stroman’s early exit. Meanwhile, Phillies relievers shut down New York over the final two innings to seal the win. With the loss, New York fell to 6-3 in their last nine home games against the Phillies dating back to 2015.
Looking ahead, the Yankees will try to salvage the finale of the three-game set on Sunday. But with inconsistent pitching, a bullpen showing signs of wear, and an offense that remains boom-or-bust, the pressure is mounting as they navigate a tight postseason race in the American League.