For much of the season, regardless of who’s in the lineup or on the IL, the Yankees have played like the best team in the American League. 

Saturday was not one of those days. 

There was a lineup that couldn’t deliver a clutch hit, sloppy defense and an uninspiring start by Will Warren. 

And a 10-2 loss to the Reds in The Bronx. 

The Yankees entered having won five of six and nine of their previous 11, even with Aaron Judge — and plenty of others — sidelined. 

But against lefty Andrew Abbott, the Yankees got a first-inning homer from Paul Goldschmidt and almost nothing else. 

It didn’t help that they went 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position. 

“We had some guys on base, but weren’t able to get that hit to take the lead … or chip into their lead,’’ Goldschmidt said. “We move on and get ready for tomorrow.” 

New York Yankees pitcher Will Warren (29) reacts after giving up a two-run RBI double to Sal Stewart during the third inning on Saturday, June 20, 2026 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, NY. Robert Sabo for NY Post

Warren, who has done well to keep the Yankees in games even without his best stuff, this time wasn’t able to stop a rally that started with an error by Ben Rice at first to open the fifth. 

Goldschmidt gave the Yankees the lead with a two-out solo shot to right-center in the first. 

Blake Dunn of the Reds scores on a sac fly during the fifth inning. Robert Sabo for NY Post

It was Goldschmidt’s third homer in his past five games, as well as his fourth in his past seven. 

Warren, after striking out the side in order in the first, gave up a leadoff double to Nathaniel Lowe in the second. 

But the right-hander didn’t let Lowe get past second and the Yankees stayed ahead. 

In the third, Edwin Arroyo doubled with one out and Blake Dunn walked. 

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Both scored on Sal Stewart’s double to left to give Cincinnati a 2-1 lead. 

The Reds added to their lead in the fifth, thanks to some shoddy Yankees defense. 

Arroyo led off with a grounder to shortstop that should have been a routine play, but Anthony Volpe threw low and Ben Rice dropped it for an error on the first baseman. 

After a forceout, JJ Bleday doubled to right and Stewart followed with a sacrifice fly. 

Lowe walked and Spencer Steer hit a three-run homer to left to make it 6-1. 

“I’ve got to find a way to minimize the damage there,” Warren said of the homer that wrecked his day, although only two of his six runs allowed were earned. “We’ve done a good job of that previously. It’s my job to wiggle out of that.” 

New York Yankees first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (48) reacts after he strikes out looking with bases loaded to end the fifth inning when the New York Yankees played the Cincinnati… Robert Sabo for NY Post

It’s why the Yankees were 12-2 in Warren’s starts entering this one. 

“Especially with our offense and the runs we can put up, I have full confidence we can come back,” Warren said. 

Not Saturday. 

New York Yankees shortstop Max Schuemann (30) throws a pitch during the ninth inning. Robert Sabo for NY Post

The Yankees loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the fifth for Goldschmidt, but he struck out looking on a 3-2 sweeper. 

He challenged the called third strike, but it was confirmed. 

“I was hoping it was a ball,” Goldschmidt said. “If it wasn’t that situation, I probably wouldn’t challenge. It was a situation where it was worth a chance. Unfortunately, it was on the corner.” 

A running catch in deep left by José Caballero in the sixth prevented at least one more run from scoring. 

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The Yankees finally chased Abbott in the sixth when Cody Bellinger and Jasson Domínguez opened with base hits. 

With two on and none out, right-hander Tejay Antone came on and got Caballero and Jazz Chisholm Jr. to pop out and Volpe to fly out to right. 

It got so ugly, in part due to Ryan Yarbrough giving up four runs in the eighth, that the Yankees resorted to using a position player, Max Schuemann, to pitch the ninth.