Boone’s decision, like most he’s made these days, backfired with Williams allowing two runs to send the Yankees to a fifth straight loss in their 2-0 setback. Williams is now 3-4 with a ghastly 5.44 ERA and has allowed runs in six of eight appearances in the second half, including four straight, to post a 9.39 ERA in this stretch.

Boone went with Williams for the eighth because he was saving David Bednar to pitch the ninth if the Yankees went ahead, or in a tie go with Mark Leiter Jr., who just came off the injured list Tuesday. Why Williams there? Besides blowing saves in his last two outings, he’d pitched to a 7.71 ERA in seven appearances since July 19.

It meant the Yankees’ fifth straight defeat, all since the trade deadline last Thursday, and it came after Williams also blew the save in the ninth inning of Monday’s loss to the Rangers. The disappointment dropped the Yankees (60-54) to a half-game lead over the Rangers (60-55) for the third and final wild-card spot.