UGLY FOUR-CAST
Yanks fall 4 out, AL East hopes in peril
Matt Holliday reacts as he grounds out in the ninth inning of the Bombers’ 2-1 loss to the Rays at Citi Field. The Yanks mustered all of three hits and Sonny Gray gave up a tie-breaking homeromer in the eighth. h.
The Red Sox should know soon what the price will be for using an Apple Watch to steal signs from the Yankees last month in Fenway Park.
Asked by The Post on Tuesday night at Citi Field if there was a timetable for a resolution to MLB’s investigation of the Red Sox for stealing Yankee signs with electronic technology, commissioner Rob Manfred offered a one-word answer.
“Quick,’’ Manfred said on the field before the Yankees 2-1 loss to the Rays.
Manfred was with Joe Torre, MLB’s chief baseball officer, and Peter Woodfork, the game’s senior vice president of baseball operations.
The Yankees accused the Red Sox of stealing signs during a series at Fenway Park last month and the Yankees sent video to MLB. The Red Sox admitted to the wrongdoing.
The Yankees alleged mem- bers of the Red Sox’ training staff relayed information from video personnel to players using an Apple Watch.
MLB rules don’t prohibit sign stealing but do prohibit using electronics to do so.
Greg Bird was held out of a second straight game on Tuesday after undergoing an MRI exam on his ailing back, but the first baseman said he felt improvement and expected to be able to play on Wednesday.
“I think I’ll be ready to go,” Bird said. “I feel a lot better.”
According to Joe Girardi and Bird, the MRI showed no structural damage and they were encouraged by how the symptoms subsided since Bird was scratched Monday.
The first baseman said the discomfort, which was between his lower and middle back, began Sunday when he went 0-for-5 versus the Rangers.
Following Monday’s game, Bird indicated he would need “a few days off,” but was more optimistic Tuesday.
“As the day has progressed, I’ve been better,’’ said Bird, who received treatment Tuesday. “I was just frustrated [Monday] night, I think.”
The Yankees finally got a fourth outfielder back when
Clint Frazier was activated from the disabled list on Monday and the left fielder made his first appearance since being sidelined with a left oblique strain on Aug. 9. Frazier went 0-for-2, but had two of the hardest-hit balls all night against Blake Snell.
In the third, he lined out to deep center. Then, with one on and two out in the fifth, Frazier hit one deep to right. It almost certainly would have been a homer at Yankee Stadium, but Steven Souza
Jr. had room to track it down at spacious Citi Field.