Yankees trounced by Blue Jays as they hold their breath on Juan Soto

TORONTO — As the Yankees held their breath again on Juan Soto, they put together another uninspiring performance without him Saturday afternoon.

A night after scoring a season-high 16 runs, with Soto playing a starring role, the Yankees fell back to earth with a 9-3 loss to the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre while their right fielder underwent X-rays that were negative on his bruised right hand.

Soto, a late scratch from the lineup, returned to the dugout around midgame, but only could watch as the Yankees (53-32) were held in check by Chris Bassitt — even after being drilled on the forearm by Aaron Judge’s 101.6 mph line drive in the first inning — and the Blue Jays bullpen.

“Just ballsy by [Bassitt] going out there and competing the way he did,” said Nestor Cortes, who was not as sharp while giving up three runs across 4 ¹/₃ inefficient innings.

Cortes left the game with the Yankees trailing, 3-1, before the Blue Jays (38-44) broke it open in the sixth inning against the bullpen.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (3-for-5, six RBIs) was responsible for most of the damage while Isiah Kiner-Falefa (4-for-5, three runs) peppered his former team as the Yankees got smacked around again.