BOSTON — For 3 ¹/₃ innings Sunday night, the new-and-improved Yankees bullpen delivered just what it was designed to do.
David Robertson, Zach Britton and Dellin Betances didn’t give up a run in relief of Masahiro Tanaka, as the Yankees took a lead in the seventh against the Red Sox looking to avoid a four-game sweep.
But then, Aroldis Chapman entered and torpedoed their effort, giving up three runs — two earned — in the ninth to send the game to extra innings, where the Yankees lost 5-4 in 10.
“Bad outing,” Chapman said through an interpreter of his performance.
The closer entered with a three-run lead and for the second time in five outings completely disintegrated.
And while the Yankees held on to beat the Mets the previous time Chapman allowed three runs, they weren’t as fortunate Sunday, when they dropped 9 ½ games back in the AL East.
Chapman gave up a hit and three walks — and also was done in by Miguel Andujar’s throwing error on a play that would have ended the game.
After not pitching since Tuesday, Chapman came in to face left-handed-hitting Brock Holt and got him looking after going to a full count for the first out.
Chapman walked the No. 9 hitter, Sandy Leon, and Mookie Betts followed by working another full count and drawing another walk.
That brought up Andrew Benintendi as the potential tying run, but Chapman got the lefty-swinging outfielder looking for the second out.
Chapman went to a full count again on Yankees killer Steve Pearce before walking him as well to load the bases.
J.D. Martinez then sent a line drive just over a leaping Gleyber Torres at second for a two-run single, cutting the Yankees’ lead to one run.
With pinch-runner Jackie Bradley, Jr. at second Xander Bogaerts grounded to third, but Andujar bounced the throw to first and Greg Bird, who entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh, couldn’t come up with it. The ball bounced far enough away from him that Bradley was able to come home with the tying run and the Yankees’ lead was gone.
With Jonathan Holder up in the bullpen, Chapman managed to whiff Mitch Moreland after a grueling 39-pitch inning.
Chapman, who has battled left knee tendinitis, hadn’t thrown more than 26 pitches in an outing this season and said his six-day layoff wasn’t the reason he wasn’t sharp.
Aaron Boone defended the southpaw who, until Sunday night, had converted 22 straight save opportunities.
“Over the course of any season … even great closers are gonna hit a bump,” the manager said. “He wasn’t real far off from being real good. He missed some close pitches and we couldn’t make a play behind him. I’m not overly concerned with him being able to bounce back from this.”
Until Sunday’s ninth inning, Chapman, who has battled left knee tendinitis, hadn’t thrown more than 26 pitches in an outing this season.