For the second straight start, New York Yankees pitcher Bartolo Colon gave up five runs, and the Bronx Bombers couldn’t quite rally all the way from a 6-0 deficit, losing at home to the Oakland A’s 6-5. Nick Swisher flied out with the bases loaded to end the game. Brandon Allen led the way for Oakland with two long home runs, including a tape-measure shot to open the scoring against Colon in the second inning.

Allen’s first home run was only the second in the short history of New Yankee Stadium to reach the “300″ level, above two levels of stands and one section of suites. “I can’t imagine another one hit much farther,” said Oakland manager Bob Melvin. “What do you do for an encore after hitting one like that? I guess hit another one.” Allen second blast, hit off reliever Hector Noesi in the top of the eighth for a 6-0 lead, only reached the second deck.

Colon is now up to 131 innings this year, which has to worry the Yankees since he hasn’t pitched over 100 innings in any season since 2005.

The Yankees loss coupled with the Red Sox winning in Texas, leaves New York and Boston in a virtual tie atop the American League East — although both teams are virtually guaranteed playoff spots because of the wild card.