Yankees’ season ends with ALDS loss to Blue Jays, 16th straight year without a title

New York—The Yankees come up short, failing to win a World Series for the 16th season in a row, dropping Game 4 of the ALDS 5-2 to the Blue Jays. Cam Schlittler got the starting nod for the Yankees and faced off against Louis Varland. 

Schlittler served up a leadoff double to George Springer in the top of the first inning. A couple of batters later, an RBI double from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. put the Jays ahead 1-0. A nice sliding catch from Cody Bellinger in foul territory in left field helped Schlittler strand runners on the corners. 

With one out in the bottom of the first inning, Aaron Judge lined a single to left field. Judge is now 12-for-23 so far this postseason. However, Belli struck out, and Giancarlo Stanton flew out to strand Judge. 

Schlittler worked a nice and easy 1-2-3 inning thanks to a beautiful over-the-shoulder catch from Anthony Volpe. 

In the bottom of the second inning, with one out, Paul Goldschmidt was hit by a pitch. But Austin Wells and Anthony Volpe struck out to strand Goldy. 

Ryan McMahon led off the bottom of the third inning with a solo home run into the short porch in right field to tie the game up at 1-1. 

Schlittler worked around a leadoff double and a wild pitch with some help from his first strikeout of the ballgame in the top of the fourth. 

In the top of the fifth inning, Schlittler surrendered back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners with nobody out. The next batter, Springer, picked up a sacrifice fly to give the Jays a 2-1 lead. 

Schlittler served up a leadoff single in the top of the sixth inning for the fourth time in six innings. It looked like Aaron Boone was coming out to pull Schlittler, but he left him in. That proved to be the right description, as a double play helped Schlittler get through six really solid innings. 

With one out in the bottom of the sixth inning, Judge was intentionally walked. A couple of batters later, Stanton worked a two-out walk. However, Jazz Chisholm Jr. grounded out to strand two runners on base. 

Schlittler remained in the game to start the top of the seventh inning, gave up a one-out single, then it looked like he induced a double play to end the inning, but Jazz bobbled a routine groundball. Devin Williams took over for Schilittler on the mound and picked up a strikeout, then Nathan Lukes made Jazz and the Yankees pay with a back-breaking two-run single to make it a 4-1 game. 

"I didn't think it was going to play the way it played and just missed it," Jazz said. "I've been thinking about that since the play happened, still thinking about it now. Still can't get it out of my head, but at the end of the day, we've got to move on eventually. But I've got three months to move now, but I'm still going to be thinking about this, probably when the season starts next year."

Cam Schlittler's final line: 6.1 innings pitched, eight hits allowed, four runs, only two earned due to the Jazz error, zero walks, eight swings and misses, and two strikeouts on 88 pitches. Schlittler threw his fastball 40% of the time, the cutter 28%, the sinker 19%, and the curveball 13% of the time. Schlittler was excellent tonight, but Jazz’s error destroyed his chance of getting through seven innings, and the offense gave him almost no support. 

"I think I obviously developed as a player and a person and as a teammate," Schlittler said. "So again, a lot of great players in here, and the coaches were great. So the experience I learned here, again, just got to make sure I can take that into next season." 

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Goldy worked a leadoff walk. Volpe then struck out, and the booes rained down for Volpe. Amed Rosario pinch-hit for McMahon with two outs and singled, but Grisham popped out in foul territory to end the inning. 

Camilo Doval replaced Williams on the mound and immediately served up a leadoff double. A couple of batters later, Myles Straw dunked in an RBI bloop single, making it a 5-1 ballgame. Doval then hit a batter and was replaced by David Bednar on the mound, and picked up the final two outs of the inning. 

Stanton singled up the middle with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, Jazz then worked a two-out walk. Ben Rice then pinch hit for Goldy and worked a walk to bring the tying run to the plate, but Wells flew out on the first pitch he saw to strand the bases loaded. 

Bednar remained in the game and served up a leadoff double on the first pitch of the top of the ninth inning. Bednar was able to pick up a groundout and a pair of strikeouts to strand a runner at second.

Jasson Dominguez pinch hit for Volpe to lead off the bottom of the ninth and roped a double in the right-center gap. With two outs, Judge lined an RBI single off the wall in left field to make it a 5-2 game. But Belli struck out to end this one and end the Yankees' season. 

My thoughts on the game: First off, congrats to the Blue Jays, they owned the Yankees this seasonn. Second off thank you to everyone who has read these recaps this season, whether this is your first time or you have been following along all season long. These recaps have been really enjoyable to write this season. Obviously, this season didn't end the way any of us wanted, coming up short yet again for the 16th consecutive year. However, it's always enjoyable watching Yankees baseball. That Jazz error cost the Yanks in a big way in the seventh inning, but it's hard to win when you only have six hits and score two runs. Judge showed up this October for a change, but unfortunately, the rest of the offense didn't. Schilittler was awesome tonight; he deserved better; he is going to be special in his first full season next year. This team could look very different next year. I hope Bellis' strikeout to end this game won't be his last as a Yankee. Grisham, who was so clutch all season long, really struggled in October and most likely won’t be back next year. Williams, who was great in September and October, probably won't be back, and Luke Weaver, who struggled the last few months, probably won't be back. Onto the offseason and the 2026 season, this team has to make some changes. 

"Obviously, there are things to discuss with family, the agent, and the business side of it all," Belli said. "But tonight, I'm just going to just soak it all in and, you know, to be a part of the group one more time." 

“The ending is the worst,” Boone said. “We got beat here. They beat us this series, simple as that. Doesn’t make it any easier; it’s a beat-up room in there. … they took it to us this series.”