TORONTO – They had the post-game music going in the visiting clubhouse late Sunday afternoon, a soundtrack almost exclusively reserved for a victory.

This time, the Yankees lost a slugfest as their steady bullpen had a few shaky moments.

And yet, it’s difficult to feel down when you’ve opened a double-digit AL East lead before the official start of summer.

Despite losing a five-run lead in the sixth, “we punched back, and we fell short,’’ Anthony Rizzo said after the Toronto Blue Jays’ 10-9 win at Rogers Centre.

Rizzo’s pinch-hit, solo homer cut Toronto’s lead to a single run in the eighth, but Toronto closer Jordan Romano registered the last five outs to end the Yanks’ nine game winning streak.

“We were right there. It just didn’t go our way,’’ said Rizzo, who grounded out with runners at the corners to end it.

So, with another series victory, and an 11-game lead on the second-place Blue Jays (38-28), the Yankees (49-17) let the music play instead of quietly packing for their next series at Tampa Bay.

“We just continue to prove to ourselves that, it doesn’t matter what the situation is in the game,’’ Rizzo said. “We’re never out of it.’’

In a game that featured nine home runs – five hit by the Yankees - Lourdes Gurriel Jr.’s sixth-inning grand slam and Teoscar Hernandez’s three-run homer made the difference for Toronto before 44,395 fans on Father’s Day.

After getting four extra days of rest due to flu-like symptoms, Yankees starter Luis Severino pitched better than his line indicated – five earned runs over five innings.

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Severino (102 pitches, 9 strikeouts) said he still felt strong before exiting in the sixth, when two inherited runs scored on Gurriel Jr.’s shot off Miguel Castro.

That cut the Yanks’ lead to 8-7.

Hernandez’s three-run shot was the first home run allowed this season by lefty Wandy Peralta, who had a 1.50 ERA through his first 21 appearances.  

The way it's been going for the Yankees, an 8-3 lead seemed like a lock.

"That's what I thought,'' Severino said. "But it's a tough (Toronto) team and they made a great comeback.''

Yankees shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa is dealing with a tight left hamstring and was only available in an emergency Sunday, according to manager Aaron Boone. 

Kiner-Falefa was not used defensively in the eighth, as Gleyber Torres switched over to shortstop. And he wasn't employed as a pinch-runner in the ninth for Giancarlo Stanton.

A recent new dad, Torres (3-for-5) celebrated his first Father’s Day with a two-run double and a solo homer, his 13th of the year.

"Kind of felt like I let the team down in a way,'' Kiner-Falefa said, though he's hopeful of starting Monday's series opener against the Rays.

Boone wouldn't rule that out, though the Yankees might give Kiner-Falefa another day to rest, especially with another series beginning on artificial turf at Tropicana Field.

Kiner-Falefa said he felt the discomfort scoring from first base on Aaron Hicks' three-run double in Saturday's fourth inning but played through it during the remainder of the game.

Boone felt it was best to play it safe with Kiner-Falefa, who said he went through a similar situation with the Texas Rangers and was fine after one day of rest. 

From one at-bat to the next, Josh Donaldson went from steaming mad to deliriously happy.  

Donaldson’s third-inning, two-run homer gave the Yankees a lead against one of his old teams.

Heavily booed by a sellout crowd, Donaldson received some extra satisfaction after his smash against lefty starter Yusei Kikuchi, who had drilled the Yankees third baseman in the left side with a pitch during his previous at-bat.

An upset Donaldson reacted by spiking his bat into the artificial turf before taking first base.

Donaldson enjoyed every minute of his home run though, flipping his bat, backpedaling from the batter’s box and doing a dance move with Joey Gallo after circling the bases as the booing intensified.

This wasn’t the first time Donaldson was drilled by the Blue Jays – the team he won an MVP with, in 2015 – since becoming a Yankee this spring.

On May 10 at Yankee Stadium, Donaldson was hit with an 0-1 pitch by Toronto reliever Yimi Garcia, after the right-hander yielded a three-run homer to Giancarlo Stanton.

That resulted in a conference of umpires, who decided to eject Garcia from the game without having previously issued warnings.

After Donaldson was plunked in Sunday’s first inning, putting runners at first and second, he got himself picked off first base by catcher Alejandro Kirk to end the inning.

Pete Caldera is the Yankees beat writer for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to all Yankees analysis, news, trades and more, please subscribe today and download our app.

Email: caldera@northjersey.com Twitter: @pcaldera