So when Ben Rice crushed a solo home run on Thursday night against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, it tied the game and one run apiece –– but the Yankees wound up losing 6-3. That cut New York's lead over Boston to just a half game for second place in the American League East Standings, as they trail the Toronto Blue Jays by 4.5 games.

New York finished with five home runs Wednesday night and 14 in the series sweep of the Rays, tying a major league record (Reds, 1999) for most homers in a two-game series.