TORONTO — The Blue Jays fans have waited a long time for meaningful games in September.
Not since 1993 have games this late in the season meant so much for the Blue Jays and they are finding out how wrenching games with a postseason place on the line can be.
The Blue Jays, who have surged since Aug. 1, lost for the third time in their past four games on Tuesday, 6-4 in 10 innings.
The Blue Jays had tied the game in the ninth on a homer by catcher Dioner Navarro and before the inning ended had loaded the bases against the Yankees closer, left-hander Andrew Miller.
But third baseman Josh Donaldson, the Blue Jays’ best player this season, struck out to send the game to the 10th. The Yankees won on a three-run homer by rookie first baseman Greg Bird against right-hander Mark Lowe.
Designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion, who struck out with the bases loaded for the third out in the eighth inning, homered in the bottom of the 10th but the Blue Jays had no more left. Their lead in the American League East dropped to 2 1/2 games over the Yankees.
Right fielder Jose Bautista helped keep the Blue Jays in the game, throwing out runners at third and home in the seventh and ninth innings, respectively.
“It’s been a tough grind the last few days,” manager John Gibbons said. “In the tight, tied ball games, we’ve struggled. Something’s happened and the big hit, the big home run, whatever it is, that’s bit us lately.”
After taking the first game of the series last Friday against the Boston Red Sox, they lost the next two games, 7-6 and 4-3.
They won the first game against the Yankees Monday with the rubber match Wednesday.
No doubt the Blue Jays will experience the ups and downs of meaningful late-season games. The emotions could not have been higher after Navarro tied the game in the ninth.
“It’s awesome,” Lowe said. “If that doesn’t fire you up, you’re doing the wrong thing for a living. The team was fired up. I was hoping to go out there and throw up a zero. Eddie hits a home run that inning, so who knows.”