New York suffered its eighth loss in nine games, while Cincinnati's Spencer Steer and Nick Martini homered to lead the offense.
The New York Yankees' already-tumultuous season took another sharp turn for the worse on Thursday as they suffered a humiliating 8-4 defeat to the Cincinnati Reds, completing a three-game sweep.
The loss marked the Yankees' eighth in nine games, a dismal stretch that has seen them fall to .600 at 54-35, their lowest winning percentage since late April.
Yankees' Season Spirals as Reds Complete Sweep, Fans Add Insult to Injury
The Reds, on the other hand, extended their winning streak to four games, improving to 42-45 in the process.
The series finale got off to an ominous start for the Yankees as Reds leadoff batter Nick Martini sent the first pitch of the game over the right-field fence for a home run. Jonathan India followed suit in the fourth inning with a solo shot, putting the Reds up 2-0.
Yankees' Season Spirals as Reds Complete Sweep, Fans Add Insult to Injury
Spencer Steer then delivered the decisive blow in the fifth inning, launching a three-run homer off Yankees starter Marcus Stroman to extend the lead to 5-0.
The Yankees managed to mount a mini-rally in the bottom of the fifth, with Austin Wells and Ben Rice going back-to-back with home runs. Juan Soto added a solo homer in the seventh, but it was too little, too late.
Yankees' Season Spirals as Reds Complete Sweep, Fans Add Insult to Injury
Adding to the misery, Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham committed a costly error in the ninth inning, allowing the Reds to advance a runner to second base. The boos rained down from the Yankee Stadium crowd, who have witnessed their team's season unravel in recent weeks.
The loss was a particularly bitter pill to swallow for the Yankees faithful, who had hoped to celebrate the Fourth of July with a victory. Instead, they were treated to another disappointing performance from their team.
The Yankees' recent struggles have been attributed to a variety of factors, including injuries, inconsistent pitching, and a lack of offensive production. Manager Aaron Boone has faced mounting criticism for his handling of the team, particularly his decision to pull his players from the national anthem standoff at the beginning of Thursday's game.
With the trade deadline approaching, the Yankees are reportedly exploring several options to bolster their roster. However, with the team's struggles showing no signs of abating, it remains to be seen whether any moves will be enough to salvage their season.
As the Yankees prepare for a four-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays this weekend, they must find a way to stop the bleeding and regain their composure. Otherwise, their once-promising season could continue to spiral out of control.
