Cam Schlittler was probably the Yankees’ best starting pitcher in August. September didn’t begin so well for him.

When the first pitch went over the plate just after 7:11 pm, there was no reason to think anything out of the ordinary was about to take place and sure enough Schlittler struck out George Springer and then took out Addison Barger in the same way.

And then everything changed.

Schlittler was trying way too hard to increase that strikeout count and seemed utterly unable to cause anybody to ground out or to hit into a fly out.

So, the third man at the plate, Vladimir Guerrero Jr found it remarkably easy to hit safely towards Cody Bellinger in leftfield. This was followed by a line drive to the same field for Bo Bichette which allowed him space to take a double and score Guerrero (1-0).

Next up was Daulton Varsho who hit a single again to leftfield which moved Bichette to third. A less competent leftfielder than Bellinger would have given Bichette space to score, but Cody was up to the test.

And then it got even worse. Varsho stole second and the clearly rattled Schlittler allowed Alejandro Kirk to walk.

Then Schlittler faced Nathan Lukes. He hit a line drive but this time to Aaron Judge (rightfield), who is still clearly laboured in his work in the field, couldn’t prevent Lukes from taking the single. Bichette and Varsho scored and Kirk moved up to second (3-0)

Schlittler got his first out that didn’t rely on his fast ball striking someone out as he got Ernie Clement to hit a meek popout toward Paul Goldschmidt to end the inning. The Yankees now desperately needed to respond in like fashion. The Blue Jays had a three game lead over them in the American League East. A sweep in this series would even things up. A series 2-1 win would narrow the Blue Jays lead to two.

Unfortunately, the Yankees’ reality fell far short of that ambition. Kevin Gausman, the Blue Jays’ starter seemed to be on optimum form. Trent Grisham grounded out directly to Guerrero at first, Ben Rice directed a similar hit to Andres Gimenez at second for a simple 4-3 groundout, and the innings was rounded by a lineout to Barger by Judge.

Gimenez started the second with a 5-3 groundout and it looked like things might be turning around a little for Schlittler, but immediately I knew I had spoken too soon. Springer was called out on strikes, but the Blue Jays decided to appeal this on the basis that Springer had been hit by the pitched ball. The action was replayed in huge detail on the main field video screen and the assembled Yankees’ fans relaxed. However, again we breathed out too soon as the umpires saw something that no-one else could see and the play on the field was overturned meaning that the Blue Jays now had a runner on first.

Then Barger was walked, then Guerrero hit a single to load the bases. Bichette hit a sac fly. The good news was that this was obviously the Blue Jays second out, bad news was that as Springer crossed home plate, the score increased to 4-0.

Schlittler was done. It was ugly and they couldn’t leave him out there any longer. Fortunately, Ryan Yarbrough had returned from injury and was going to be the long reliever. Now the batters really needed to deliver. Yarbrough struck out Varsho to end the inning.

Bellinger began the innings with a fly out to centerfield where Varsho took it cleanly. And then the Yankees had a moment of hope. Giancarlo Stanton hit one right into the seats in left centerfield for a homer. 4-1.

Hope sometimes out does its self.

But discouragement comes back quickly with Jazz Chisholm Jr called out on strikes and then Paul Goldschmidt swinging too hastily and then joining Jazz back on the bench.

In the top of the third, Kirk hit one straight back to Yarbrough who deflected the hit to Ryan McMahon who took Kirk out by throwing to Goldschmidt at first. Then Lukes hit another grounder this time to Jose Caballero at shortstop who again threw to Goldschmidt for the second out. Yarbrough was really hitting his stride and caused Clement to hit back to the mound so he could throw over to Goldschmidt to bring up the Yankees once again.

Things didn’t get better for the Yankees in the third as they went down 1-2-3. First, McMahon struck out swinging, then a poor misjudged bunt from Caballero went 5-3, and finally Grisham popped out to Clement.

The game was quickening as now nobody could get a hit off either pitcher. Gimenez lined out, Springer struck out swinging, Barger grounded out. Then Rice, Judge and Bellinger went down likewise.

But then the quiet consistency broke as we stepped into the fifth. Yarbrough conceded his first run as the excellent Guerrero hit a home run into right centerfield. 5-1.

Then Bichette hit a single but in his turn Varsho grounded into a forceout. Bichette was out at second with Varsho out at first. A strikeout for Kirk and a ground out (5-3) for Lukes to end the inning.

In return – or rather not in return – the Yankees had nothing to offer. Stanton struck out on a foul tip. Chisholm went second to first and Goldschmidt shortstop to first. There was really very little sign of the Yankees getting back into this one-sided game despite Yarbrough’s best efforts.

In the 6th, Yarbrough once again added to his great performance getting Clement to flyout and Gimenez and Springer to groundout.

Despite McMahon opening the inning with a walk, there was nothing else on view as Gausman was cruising through this one. Caballero and Grisham flied out and then Ben Rice hit into a weak grounder to end any opportunity that might have developed.

Yarbrough is good at getting the batters to return the ball to him and he did it again with Barger hitting it weakly so he could scoop it over to Goldschmidt. For once Guerrero failed to hit safely but his co-worker Bichette with a strong hit to centerfield resulting in a single. However, the third out came when Varshi popped out in foul territory to Goldschmidt who was having a good time of it defensively.

There hadn’t been much to say about Aaron Judge today but he now hit a strong grounder to centerfield for a single, to give the Yankees a glimmer of renewed hope.

Bellinger though hit into a forceplay resulting in Judge being out at second – and then a single for Stanton put two runners on base. Chisholm struck out swinging and Goldschmidt flied out into right field to bring another opportunity to recover (no more how small) to a close.

So, then the excellent performance of Ryan Yarbrough came to end as he was lifted for Mark Leiter Jr to take his place on the mound – it was not going to go well. He walked Kirk and then moved him up to second on a wild pitch. He did strike out Lukes but then gave up a double to Clement. Kirk scored and fortunately Clement was thrown out at third trying to advance, due to a quite excellent throw from Bellinger. 6-1.

Gimenez then struck out to end the top of the eighth.

The bottom of the inning began with McMahon flying out and then Caballero went 5-3. Grisham hit a single to centerfield where he had been stood just a few minutes before Rice hit a grounder to close the inning.

9th? Camilo Doval replaced Leiter who had performed poorly. He took the first two outs easily enough – a Springer flyball to left and foul popup to Goldschmidt for Barger – but then it once more came apart at the seams.

Guerrero hit a single and then Rice allowed a passed ball, before Doval let Bichette walk. Then a Varsho double scored Guerrero and moved Bichette to third. 7-1.

Kirk grounded out to close out the Blue Jays contribution to the scoreline, unless the Yankees staged a miraculous comeback and took it into extra innings.

That wasn’t to be and the Yankees went down without a murmur. Reliever, Braydon Fisher walked Judge to give himself the hope of a tidy finish which he did by getting Bellinger to pop out to shortstop and then Stanton to hit into a doubleplay.

One to forget for the Yankees. Let’s hope tomorrow is a better day.