YANKS LOSE, BUT CLINCH PAGES 48-49

Garcia's first dud halts 10-game streak, but Yanks still clinch

BOSTON — On the day the Yankees clinched their fourth consecutive playoff berth, they also got a reminder that, while Deivi Garcia has flashed plenty of potential since being called up to the majors, he’s only made five major league starts.

Garcia and the Yankees were hammered by an underwhelming Boston lineup in a 10-2 loss at Fenway Park to bring an end to their 10-game winning streak, but hours later, the Mariners were eliminated from contention with a loss to the Padres to get the Yankees back into the postseason.

And with Tampa Bay’s loss to Baltimore, the Rays’ magic number to clinch the AL East is now three, since they own the tiebreaker over the Yankees.

Before the game, Aaron Boone acknowledged the expanded playoffs changed the nature of the postseason, but Adam Ottavino doesn’t take anything away from the accomplishment.

“I don’t think it loses any luster,’’ the right-hander said prior to the game. “We’re here and we’ve been grinding the whole year. It’s gonna be different in the playoffs, with more rounds and different hurdles, but we want to win it. We’re here to win. That’s the goal.”

For that to happen, the Yankees will need more from the 21-year-old Garcia, who allowed six runs in three innings, hurt by poor command and — according to Boone — questionable pitch selection.

“Just some misses with his fastball,’’ Boone said of Garcia’s lack of command. “I don’t think he had the same life on his fastball . ... A couple of pitch selections could have mixed a little more.”

Boone remained confident in Garcia, who will make one more appearance before the playoffs begin.

“Just a bump here for him,’’ Boone said. “They’re all things he can correct and do what we’ve seen in his next one. He’s fully equipped to handle these things.”

They’ll find out how quickly he can do it.

Pitching to Gary Sanchez, Garcia became the latest starter to have lesser results with Sanchez behind the plate. Gerrit Cole, in particular, has had more success with Kyle Higashioka.

“I battled with [command],’’ Garcia said through an interpreter. “It kept me from being as aggressive as I wanted to be.”

The right-hander said he was unable to put together enough quality pitches, but was determined to be better for it.

“I’ll take this experience, turn the page and focus on the next start,’’ Garcia said.

He was hit hard all day and gave up a pair of homers to Michael Chavis, both on hanging breaking balls.

The first was a two-run shot in the second. An inning later, Chavis hit a three-run homer — again over the Green Monster in left — on another hanger to make it 6-0.

The Yankees offense, so productive during the winning streak, was largely shut down by Boston’s own rookie right-hander, Tanner Houck.

The 24-year-old didn’t give up a hit Sunday until Tyler Wade led off the sixth with a double to right-center.

With the defeat, the Yankees also ended their run of 12 straight wins over the Red Sox — which matched a franchise record over their archrivals.

Erik Kratz, who finished the game on the mound for the Yankees, caught Garcia often in the minors and stood by the rookie after Sunday’s setback.

“He’s not gonna make excuses,’’ Kratz said. “He’s gonna go back and look at it. When you have the intelligence he has, you can make adjustments and be better.”

Garcia seemed sure he would.

“You’ve got to stay positive,’’ Garcia said. “Turn the page quickly and at the same time learn from the experience.”