Yankees' Aaron Boone Says 5th Ejection of 2025 'Isn't the Reason We Lost' to Astros

The New York Yankees' once-promising season is ripping apart at the seams and Sunday did little to rectify that trend, as manager Aaron Boone was tossed in the third inning of a 7-1 loss against the Houston Astros for arguing balls and strikes.

It was his fifth ejection of the season. After the game, Boone told reporters he didn't believe it played a part in New York's seventh loss in its last nine games.

"It was the first couple of innings," he said. "I was on him a lot. That's over and done with and it is what it is and that isn't the reason we lost this game."

On June 12, the Yankees beat the Kansas City Royals and moved to a season-high 17 games over .500 (42-25). Since then, they've gone 20-31, have fallen to six games back of the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL East and are just a half-game ahead of the Cleveland Guardians for the final Wild Card berth.

It's been a stunning fall from grace for a team with the fourth largest payroll in baseball, and a flurry of moves at the trade deadline—which included adding third baseman Ryan McMahon; relievers David Bednar, Jake Bird and Camilo Doval; utilitymen Amed Rosario and utilityman José Caballero; and outfielder Austin Slater—hasn't stemmed the tide.

Worse yet, Rosario and Slater have suffered injuries since being acquired by the Yankees and are on the injured list, while Bird was demoted to Triple-A.

But Boone is still preaching optimism despite the ongoing struggles.

"Obviously, we're feeling it, and we know we have to be better," he told reporters Sunday. "We know we have a much higher standard for ourselves, and expectations. But at the same time, we're in control of this. I wholeheartedly believe that we are going to get rolling and turn this thing around. When it does, then you start to really build that next layer of confidence, where guys are kinda feeding off each other. It's all just talk right now, but that's how I feel about it. We gotta go do it."

Boone, who was last ejected on July 23, has now been booted from games 44 times since taking over as New York's manager in 2018. He has yet to lead the Yankees to a title, though they reached the World Series last season.

But if things don't turn around this season, there are going to be major questions regarding the futures of both Boone and general manager Brian Cashman. A lot is at stake for the Yankees over the next two months.