The Yankees were blown out by the Rays, 9-0, and had to resort to using Marwin Gonzalez on the mound. 

After manager Aaron Boone said he hoped the unwelcome addition of a pennant race would bring out the best in his Yankees, they went out and played one of their worst games of the season. The Yankees’ slide continued, and their lead over the Rays dropped to five games — the lowest it has been since June 1 — and just four ahead in the loss column. 

“That’s an embarrassing loss,” Boone said. “Hopefully, it’s one of those rock-bottom things where you should be pissed off and embarrassed.” 

It was the Yankees’ fifth loss in their past six games — following a five-game winning streak — while Tampa Bay won its fourth straight. 

The Yankees’ offense was a no-show again as they were shut out for the sixth time in their past 25 games. And the lineup took another hit when Andrew Benintendi left with a right wrist injury. 

Edwin Díaz struck out Gavin Lux on a 102 mph fastball to escape a jam in the eighth inning, and the New York Mets beat the major league-best Los Angeles Dodgers 5-3.

Francisco Lindor hit a tying double in the sixth against Chris Martin (4-1) and scored the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly by Darin Ruf after the Mets were held to one hit in five innings by Clayton Kershaw, who made his first start since Aug. 4.

NL East-leading New York took two of three from Los Angeles, its first series win against the Dodgers since Sept. 3-5, 2011. LA lost consecutive games for the first time since July 25-26.

Chris Bassitt (12-7) allowed two runs and six hits in six innings for his fifth straight victory, matching his win total from last season with Oakland. He departed after the Mets took a 3-2 lead in the sixth.

New York led 5-2 when Díaz opened the eighth by walking Freddie Freeman and plunking Will Smith. Freeman scored on Justin Turner’s sacrifice fly. Díaz then escaped by whiffing Lux on the hardest pitch of his career.

With over a month left in the season, Aaron Judge hit the 50-homer mark for the second time in his career.

With his one-out blast in the top of the eighth against the Angels at Angel Stadium, Judge became just the 10th player in MLB history to have multiple seasons with at least 50 home runs.

He also reached the milestone in 2017, when Judge hit 52 as a rookie.

Judge’s next challenge — in addition to battling the Angels Shohei Ohtani for AL MVP — will be making a run at Roger Maris’ American League and franchise record of 61 homers, set 61 years ago in 1961.

Judge’s home run was greeted with loud cheers from the announced sellout crowd on Monday night, which was filled with Yankee fans — who booed loudly when Judge was walked twice intentionally earlier in the game.