You haven't been able to say it often during the 2012 season. But on Monday night, it was appropriate: The Yankees flat-out missed Mariano Rivera.

His replacement, Rafael Soriano, coughed up a two-run lead in the ninth in the Yankees' 8-7 loss to Toronto.

"It's unfortunate," Joe Girardi said. "It was just too much to overcome."

Monday's meltdown was Soriano's third blown save in 36 chances.

And it happened in stunning fashion.

Soriano took the ball with the Yanks up 6-4 in the ninth. After striking out Yorvit Torrealba, he allowed a single to Moises Sierra. He then got Adeiny Hechavarria to pop out to Robinson Cano.

Two outs, two-run lead. Everything under control, right?

"You'd think so," Derek Jeter said. "The guy's been good all year."

Not on Monday night.

Rajai Davis followed with a two-strike single through the hole at shortstop to put runners at first and third with two out.

Soriano then hung an 85-mph slider that Colby Rasmus deposited in the second deck in right to give Toronto a 7-6 lead.

For Soriano, it snapped as streak of nine straight saves converted from July 23 to Aug. 26. And it was his first homer allowed wince July 22 at Oakland.

"He's been so good for us, we've seen him close so many games for us," Girardi said. "Just tonight wasn't the night."

Soriano wasn't around to talk about his night after the game, bringing back memories of the first time he allowed three-plus earned runs as a Yankee -- on April 5, 2011, against Minnesota. That night, he took heat from the press for failing to stick around after the game to talk about his night.

He bounced back from that faux pas to become one of the most important members of the 2012 Yankees. He has recorded 33 saves in place of Rivera, establishing himself as one of the top closers in baseball.

Just not on Monday night.

"He's been great," Jeter said of Soriano. "But, hey, you've got to tip you're cap. The guy just hit a home run."