The New York Yankees extended their struggles with a 5-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays, failing to win a series for the eighth consecutive time. Nestor Cortes' road woes continued, allowing five runs in 4 1/3 innings, while the Yankees squandered multiple scoring opportunities, finishing 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and leaving 10 men on base. Despite solo home runs by Juan Soto and Austin Wells, the Yankees' rally fell short in the ninth inning. The Rays capitalized with key performances from Randy Arozarena, who hit a two-run homer, and Brandon Lowe, who had three hits and an RBI. The Yankees remain in a slump, having lost 18 of their last 25 games. Meanwhile, the Orioles' own struggles provide a narrow buffer for the Yankees in the AL East standings as they prepare for a crucial series against Baltimore.