The Yankees are topping the AL East this season, but their rivalry with the Red Sox is deviating dangerously off course. Saturday’s 4-3 loss marked yet another stumble against their age-old foes, making it four losses in five games to Boston this year. For a team that has handled most of the league with authority, their continued struggles against the Red Sox raise serious questions.

For Saturday’s loss, the spotlight falls on Jasson Dominguez, whose seventh-inning misplay in center field proved costly. The Yankees had clawed their way back into the game, but a defensive lapse flipped the momentum and ultimately handed Boston the win.

After the game, the manager Aaron Boone weighed in, offering a reality check for the slugger.

“He thought it was a third strike, so you know, obviously he feels terrible about that. I talked to him, but it’s like constantly reminding, looking around, reminding yourself with kind of speaking out loud, talking to each other, one of those to where you’re making sure you’re always paying attention to that, but probably something that won’t ever happen to him again,” Boone said.

Boone knows the gaffe by Dominguez was not intentional. It can’t be. But it was a case of lack of attention which the skipper hopes will not be repeated. In his postgame remarks, Boone laid it out bluntly. The Yankees’ slugger needs to be more locked in. No excuses.

The incident happened in the seventh inning of Saturday’s clash against the Red Sox, when Dominguez drifted too far off second base, thinking Trent Grisham had just struck out to end the inning. But Grisham hadn’t.

While the outfielder hesitated, by then, Red Sox catcher Carlos Narvaez had already unleashed a pinpoint throw to second. Two throws later, Dominguez was tagged out at third, as he stood there with nothing but a cloud of dust and a stunned expression.

It was a mental lapse in a one-run game that proved costly for New York.

But Dominguez’s gaffe was not the only reason why the Yankees were left red-faced. The loss against the Red Sox was painful for another reason as well.

The Yankees have yet to get the better of Hunter Dobbins

Just on the eve of the last series finale against the Yankees, the Red Sox’s pitcher Hunter Dobbins rubbed a few noses by degrading the Bronx Bombers. What’s worse from the Yankees’ perspective was he ended up having the upper hand afterwards.

While Aaron Judge took a homer against Dobbins in the last series finale, it was the Red Sox who had the last laugh as they won the game by 11-7. And, things didn’t change this time either. Dobbins put on a quality performance again.

Just a week after declaring he’d rather retire than pitch for the Yankees, the Red Sox right-hander backed his words with actions, silencing New York’s bats. For the unversed, Dobbins tossed six shutout innings on Saturday, striking out five and allowing just two singles in a dominant performance.

The Yankees surely have an unfinished business with Dobbins and they have another game in hand. Yes, the series is gone, but the next game would be worth watching for the Bronx Bombers’ approach against Dobbins. Who do you think will come out trumps?