Aaron Boone’s team wasted an opportunity to gain ground on several contenders in the American League playoff chase, getting shut down by All-Star righty Joe Ryan and two relievers in a 4-1 loss Wednesday to deadline-gutted Minnesota at the Stadium after taking the first two games of the series.

The start of their series finale against Minnesota was delayed for 1:52 by rain and by the fifth inning the out-of-town scoreboard showed that AL East leader Toronto and second-place Boston had lost as had the team chasing them for the final AL wild card, Cleveland.

Aside from a home run by Cody Bellinger and some hard contact early, the Yanks were flummoxed by a sharp outing by Joe Ryan, who tossed 6.2 innings with heightened velocity and a season-high in pitches.