The New York Yankees have every chance to claw their way back to the top of the American League East standings.

Heading into Friday’s game, they trailed the Toronto Blue Jays by 4.5 games and held just a half-game lead over Boston.

Their Wild Card position remains intact, but that margin is razor-thin, and one bad stretch could erase it immediately.

Thursday’s 6–3 series-opening loss to the Red Sox underscored exactly why the Yankees continue to live dangerously close to collapse.

Defensive miscues sink momentum

Four errors in a single game is the type of sloppy baseball that simply cannot happen in August.

Against a rival like Boston, those miscues felt even more costly, handing away momentum that never should have shifted.

The offense also failed to capitalize on scoring chances,

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