Schadenfreude 205 (A Continuing Series)

George A. King III, Post:

It has gotten so bad the Yankees can't beat a team that made five errors in the first four innings.

In a rare visit to The Bronx, the cement-handed Brewers botched five balls Friday night and still slipped out of Yankee Stadium with a 9-4 victory, witnessed by a soggy and cranky crowd of 43,472 ...

The reeling Yankees lost for the 17th time in 23 games, the third straight and fifth in the past six games while on the receiving end of many loud, well-deserved boos from the disgusted customers. ...

Coupled with the Red Sox beating the Rays, the second-place Yankees dropped a season-high 4½ lengths back of the AL East leader. ...

The loudest boos were for veteran right-hander Tyler Clippard, who allowed the two runners he inherited from Tyler Webb to score in the sixth on a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly, then issued three walks (one intentional) and a grand slam to Jesus Aguilar in the seventh to fracture a 4-4 tie. ...

The crowd also serenaded Chase Headley with boos. ...

[T]there is no denying the negative impact Clippard had on the latest loss. Yet, when a team makes five errors in four innings and wins, there is enough blame to blanket a clubhouse.

Justin Tasch, Daily News:

Tyler Clippard was rested and coming off three straight appearances without giving up a run, seeming to have righted the ship after an abysmal middle of June.

But Clippard unraveled again on Friday night, allowing a tie-breaking grand slam in the seventh inning with a full count and two outs in the Yankees' 9-4 loss to the Brewers. The Yankees (44-40) have lost 17 of their last 23 games and are now 4.5 games behind the Red Sox for first place in the AL East. ...

Over his last five appearances at home, Clippard has allowed 13 runs in three innings.

Christian Red, Daily News:

Judge's bat couldn't help the Bombers avoid a third straight loss, this one an ugly, rain-delayed 9-4 defeat at the Stadium that featured beleaguered reliever Tyler Clippard in another meltdown. Clippard surrendered a grand slam to Milwaukee first baseman Jesus Aguilar in the seventh inning – a hit that essentially iced the game – and as he departed the field, Clippard made it rain in a different way. What was left of the 43,472 fans booed the right-hander mercilessly. ...

The Yankees (44-40) are still within striking distance of their ancient rivals – the American League East-leading Red Sox – but after Boston's win Friday put them 4½ games up on the Bombers, it might as well be a 14-game hole. Or, about the same-sized crater the Yankee bullpen seems to dig on a regular basis.

Ken Davidoff, Post:

Right now, with their season coming off the rails, Joe Girardi and the Yankees need to choose a lane and stay there.

Are they pushing their pitchers in the interest of staying afloat in this playoff race? Or are they playing the long game, understanding they always regarded a postseason berth as a long shot, making research and development the top priority?

The Yankees suffered another terrible loss Friday night at Yankee Stadium, 9-4 to the Brewers, because Girardi managed it in between. ...

Bad offenses produce apathy. Bad starting rotations create a sense of futility. Bad bullpens? They get people angry. The Stadium is one angry place right now — Yankees relievers have taken nine of the 17 losses in this skid — and as I write this, most Yankees fans have yet to read Clippard's postgame comments.

"I feel very good about where I'm at on the mound right now," said Clippard, who has allowed eight extra-base hits and seven walks in his past seven outings ...

Yeesh.