Yankees struggle with defense and pitching in six game skid
Volpe Judge incident underscores Yankees’ confusion on field
Q: What happened during the Volpe throw to Judge incident? A: After recording the third out in the fourth inning, Anthony Volpe tossed the ball to Aaron Judge, who was crossing into the infield from right field. Judge was not paying attention and was struck in the head, losing his sunglasses and sustaining a small cut near his right eye. Despite the injury, Judge remained in the game, but the play reflected the team’s lack of focus during a difficult stretch. Q: How did the Yankees’ manager respond to the incident? A: Aaron Boone described the play as “confusion” and expressed initial concern about Judge’s well-being. Boone indicated that avoiding injury to Judge, the best player in baseball, was a rare positive in an otherwise sloppy loss. Boone said, “I didn’t know what happened initially. It just felt like something happened.”
Mets capitalize on Yankees’ defensive lapses and pitching woes
The Yankees’ recent skid is fueled by defensive miscues and a pitching staff that has hit a wall. The team’s ERA since June 28 stands at a staggering 8.45, compared to 6.89 for the Nationals and 6.34 for the Mets, underscoring their pitching struggles. Starter Carlos Rodon allowed seven runs (six earned) in five innings during the game, walking two batters before giving up a grand slam to Brandon Nimmo. Nimmo’s grand slam was his second in four days, a sign of how the Mets exploited Yankees errors. In addition to Volpe’s misthrow, outfielder Jasson Dominguez misplayed multiple balls in left field during the series opener and second game, allowing extra bases. Third baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. also committed a throwing error that led to a run in the second inning. Trent Grisham’s error in center field extended the Mets’ lead in the seventh inning. These defensive mistakes directly contributed to runs scored against the Yankees and widened the gap.
Yankees standings fall as pitching collapses despite offensive output
Q: How has this losing streak affected the Yankees’ standing in the AL East? A: The Yankees entered June 30 with a three-game lead over the Toronto Blue Jays but now find themselves tied with the Tampa Bay Rays for second place, three games behind the Blue Jays. Their defensive and pitching lapses, combined with a depleted roster, have eroded their early-season advantage. Q: How does this skid compare to the Yankees’ previous six-game losing streak? A: The first skid was marked by offensive struggles, with the Yankees scoring only six runs in six games and allowing 16. In contrast, the current skid features improved offense—34 runs scored in six games—but a pitching staff that has surrendered 54 runs in that span. Boone highlighted this shift, noting that pitching, which had carried the team earlier, has “really, really struggled this week.”
Boone calls for fundamentals and resilience to end skid
Aaron Boone emphasized the importance of fundamentals and resilience as the Yankees face this challenging stretch. Judge summarized the issue succinctly, saying, “It’s just the little things. That’s what it kind of comes down to.” Boone acknowledged the emotional toll but stressed that the team must “weather it and come out of this and grow.” With starter Clarke Schmidt likely facing season-ending Tommy John surgery, the Yankees must address both defensive consistency and pitching depth to halt their skid and regain their footing in the division race. The numbers clearly illustrate a team in need of correction on multiple fronts to avoid further decline.
