Yankees Lose Again, Fall Out Of First

For the first time since July 1, the Yankees are not a first place team.

Wednesday night's 2-1 loss in Cleveland was New York's fifth straight and marks the sixth time in the last seven games they've scored two runs or fewer.

Danny Salazar (10-6) held the pinstripes to a run on four hits over 7 and 2/3 innings, striking out eight. C.C. Sabathia gave up just two runs, but yielded nine hits and a pair of walks to fall to 4-9 on the season.

It all amounts to a rapid fall from the top of the AL East, considering New York held a six-game division lead over both Baltimore and Toronto on August 1. The Blue Jays, meanwhile, are white-hot. The new eastern division leaders - who were eight games out of first on July 28 - banged out their tenth straight win on Wednesday, 10-3 over Oakland.

Joe Girardi hopes to avoid a second consecutive three-game series sweep on Thursday night when 11-2 Nathan Eovaldi gets the start.