# 1999 Yankees Diary, September 12: Yanks’ woes deepen as Clemens falters late ## Blue Jays take series, Yankees slide continues ### Clemens gives up five runs on 11 hits while striking out just three batters The New York Yankees' woes continued on Sunday night as they dropped the rubber game of their series with the Toronto Blue Jays, 8-6. The loss was the Yankees' fourth in a row and dropped them to 87-56 on the season, their first four-game losing streak since May. Roger Clemens got the start for the Yankees and was roughed up by the Blue Jays' lineup. Clemens allowed five runs on 11 hits while striking out just three batters in 4 2/3 innings of work. It was Clemens' shortest outing since July 25, and it marked the first time he had allowed five earned runs in a start since June 28. The Yankees' bullpen didn't fare much better, allowing three more runs on six hits in 4 1/3 innings. Mariano Rivera gave up a two-run homer to Carlos Delgado in the ninth inning, which sealed the victory for the Blue Jays. The Yankees' offense was led by Derek Jeter, who went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs. Alfonso Soriano also had a big night, going 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs. But it wasn't enough to overcome Clemens' poor outing. The loss dropped the Yankees to 4 1/2 games behind the Boston Red Sox in the AL East. The Yankees will try to avoid a sweep when they face the Blue Jays again on Monday night. ## What went wrong for Clemens? Clemens has been one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball over the past two decades, but he has struggled at times this season. He is now 12-7 with a 4.35 ERA, and his strikeout rate is down to 6.8 per nine innings. There are a few possible explanations for Clemens' struggles. First, he is 46 years old, and even the most durable pitchers start to decline at some point. Second, Clemens has been dealing with some injuries this season, including a strained hamstring and a sore shoulder. Finally, Clemens may simply be facing better hitters than he used to. Whatever the reason, Clemens' struggles have been a major factor in the Yankees' recent slide. The Yankees are now 10-15 since August 1, and they have fallen out of first place in the AL East. ## What's next for the Yankees? The Yankees will try to avoid a sweep when they face the Blue Jays again on Monday night. Andy Pettitte will get the start for the Yankees, and he will be opposed by Roy Halladay. The Yankees will then have a day off on Tuesday before opening a three-game series with the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night. The Red Sox are currently 4 1/2 games ahead of the Yankees in the AL East, so this series could be crucial in determining the division winner. The Yankees need to turn things around quickly if they want to win the AL East and make a deep run in the playoffs. They will need Clemens to pitch better, and they will need their offense to produce more runs. If they can do those things, they still have a chance to reach their goals.
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