TORONTO _ CC Sabathia impressively turned back the clock Saturday afternoon, resembling his former ace self with seven shutout innings against the powerful Toronto Blue Jays.
But the Yankees' offense made it three straight games in which it resembled its mostly inept self from the first four months of the season.
And so, when Jose Bautista crushed a two-out, three-run homer off Tyler Clippard in the eighth inning, the Yankees' fate was sealed, sending them to a third straight shutout loss, this one 3-0 in front of a boisterous sellout crowd of at Rogers Centre.
The Yankees (79-75), who managed one hit over seven innings against Marcus Stroman, and three hits overall, fell to 2-7 on this 11-game trip that can't end soon enough from their perspective.
They've lost 10 of 13 since a seven-game winning streak put them firmly in the mix for the AL's final wild card spot two weeks ago.
The Yankees have not scored a run since the ninth inning of Wednesday night's 11-5 victory over the Rays.
Sabathia, who came in 1-2 over his last six starts but with a 3.09 ERA in that span, allowed four hits over seven innings, lowering his season ERA to 4.02.
Stroman entered the afternoon 9-9 with a 4.50 ERA, having lost four straight decisions and not having won since Aug. 14. The 25-year-old right-hander allowed one hit and three walks and struck out five.
Clippard came on for Sabathia in the eighth and retired the first two batters. But Josh Donaldson singled and, with Edwin Encarnacion at the plate, went to second on a wild pitch. Encarnacion walked, to bring up Bautista. The right fielder lasered one over the wall in left for his 20th homer of the season.
Roberto Osuna pitched a scoreless ninth for his 35th save.
The Yankees' best scoring chance came in the fourth. Brett Gardner led off with a walk and, with Jacoby Ellsbury at the plate, went to second on a passed ball. Ellsbury, however, struck out, as did Gary Sanchez. Didi Gregorius flied to center to end the inning.
The Yankees got their first runner in scoring position in the eighth when Ronald Torreyes tripled off Jason Grilli with two outs. Billy Butler, pinch hitting for Tyler Austin and 8-for-18 over his first six games as a Yankee, struck out swinging at a 93-mph fastball to end the threat.
