Boone also opted against benching Austin Wells when he cost the Yankees an out in a recent game by forgetting the outs. He didn’t bench rookie Jorbit Vivas for not sliding into third base when he was out tagging up from second on a long flyball in Atlanta right after the All-Star break.

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.