Rangers 12 Yankees 10 | Can’t take care of business

After splitting the first two games of the season, the New York Yankees were in position to win their ninth series in a row with a victory on Wednesday against the Texas Rangers. Early in the game the Yankees looked like they were going to extend that streak and finish off a 4-2 road trip. However, the pitching melted down in epic fashion and the Yankees suffered one of their worst losses of the season.

Turning Point

With the two outs and bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth and the Yankees holding a 10-8 lead, Jurickson Profar hit a first-pitch fastball from David Robertson to clear the bases and give the Rangers the lead.

Three Takeaways

— The Yankees had arguably their worst pitched game of the season. The 12 runs they allowed were the second most this season and the Yankees blew leads of 4-0 and 10-5. Both times the Yankees took the lead they looked like they were in cruise control. CC Sabathia had his worst outing of the season. He had allowed only one homer to a lefty batter all season; he allowed two in the bottom of the fourth, one apiece to Nomar Mazara and Ronald Guzman. Robertson walked two batters, one of which forced a run home, and the aforementioned bases-clearing double. Overall, the Yankees allowed seven homers and 23 runs in the three games in Arlington.

— Take solace in that the Yankees are the league’s best offense and can overcome deficits that other teams can’t. The Bronx Bombers hit four home runs, their third straight game with at least three, a major-league record. While the “on pace” stat can be misleading, the Yankees are on pace for 272 home runs. It was fun during the offseason and spring training to suggest they could break the 1997 Seattle Mariners record of 264. With Gleyber Torres showing immense power, hitting four home runs in the three-game series, and Greg Bird on his way back, the Yankees have as much potential as any team ever. They also scored at least 10 runs for the third time over that span. Normally, four home runs and 10 runs overall is enough to win, but it wasn’t on Wednesday.

— While someone can make the case it doesn’t matter where the wins are coming from as long as a team wins more games than its competition, nobody likes it when a team plays up and down depending on the opponent. The Yankees are only 3-6 against last-place teams. They lost three out of four at home against the Baltimore Orioles, split a two-game set with the Miami Marlins and lost two out of three on the road against the Rangers. One key for the Yankees winning the division is to take care of business against weak teams and they, albeit a small sample size, have not been able to do that this season.

Player of the Game

Aaron Judge capped the Yankees scoring in the fifth inning with a long two-run homer that traveled 471 feet. It was the longest home run by a visiting player at Globe Life Park. He also had a single and scored two runs.