Yankees have failed to break away — along with Orioles — and now need strong finish

CHICAGO — The Yankees are not alone.

That is a source of both consolation and consternation.

Since holding the majors’ best record on June 14 at 50-22, the Yankees have gone 30-38. But during that span, the Orioles have only gone 36-36, meaning the Yankees have only lost four games in the AL East standings — going from 3 ½ games up to a half-game behind.

So while the Yankees remain right in the thick of things, they have also missed a golden chance to separate themselves, now needing to put together a strong run over their final 22 games to have any hope of winning the division.

But as the calendar flipped from August to September, the Yankees were still not playing their best baseball, having lost six of their last eight games entering Friday’s showdown against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

“We know what’s in front of us and we gotta go take it,” manager Aaron Boone said before the Yankees flew out of Texas late Wednesday night. “Nobody’s going to give it to us, nobody’s going to feel sorry for us.