Yankee slugger Aaron Judge struggles in Red Sox series, delivering another poor performance – and he acknowledges the cause.
A Fumbled Stint at the Plate for Judge, as Yankees Get Swiftly Swept by Red Sox
Boston – This season has been a record-breaking extravaganza for Aaron Judge, as he leads the league in practically every offensive category, earning comparisons to legends like Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, and Barry Bonds. Yet, the last stretch in Boston wasn't much to write home about, save for a powerhouse swing against Garrett Crochet in the 9th inning that extended the game into extras.
That lone hit turned out to be the extent of Judge’s contributions for the series. He racked up 0-for-4 with 3 more whiffs in the 2-0 loss on Sunday at Fenway Park, capping off the sweep.
With a golden opportunity in the 8th, the Yankees boasted runners on first and second and one out. Enter Garrett Whitlock, who snatched Judge's hopes of a comeback when he got the slugger to ground into an inning-ending double play.
The usually exceptional Judge exhibited a rare streak when he started venturing outside the strike zone, leaving some pitches unexploited. As he put it, "Swinging at strikes usually helps any hitter."
Judge missed an off-target slider during the double play, swung on a sinker that was in and down from Brayan Bello in the 6th, and set his sights on a four-seamer that was slightly outside in the 3rd, along with a cutter from Bello that dipped low and away in his initial at-bat.
The Red Sox weren't the sole culprits, as Judge went 1-for-12 with the homer and 9 strikeouts – fanning three times in each game.
"It's a herculean task to deal with Judge," Boston manager Alex Cora commented. "We saw it during our previous series. We've seen it throughout the season. He's incredibly skilful, yet we minimized his impact with our fastballs in strategic spots and managed to secure some whiffs. It was one of those weekends.”
When the Yankees and Red Sox squared off at Yankee Stadium, Judge shone brightly, delivering a pair of three-hit games.
Cora's illustrious career tells us, "Throughout the years, we've been aggressive with him. Sometimes he gets us and sometimes we manage to tame him. It's always a thrilling challenge to compete against the best, and in my opinion, he's the cream of the crop at the moment."
While there's no denying Judge's prowess, his recent lackluster performance raises some eyebrows. It's particularly concerning that this slump coincides with a broader dry spell affecting much of the lineup.
"When batting is taxing, searching for perfection, you sometimes take some monkey swings in an attempt to bring about some action instead of taking your walk when it's offered," mused Judge, who has gone without walking in four straight games for the first time this year.
Even without Judge's customary dominance, the Yanks managed to amass four runs over the three games against a Red Sox squad that's suddenly fired up in the AL East race. Still, relying heavily on their ace could prove disastrous.
As Boone, the Yankees' manager, acknowledged, "Hitting is challenging, and it's difficult to be flawless. ... Swinging at bad pitches is inevitable. ... Baseball pinches you sometimes."
In an unexpected turn of events for Aaron Judge, a series of missed opportunities and swings at poor pitches resulted in a subpar performance during the Yankees' match against the Red Sox, causing concern for both Judge and the team, especially considering his previous record-breaking season. Meanwhile, the baseball season continues to unveil surprises as the Red Sox, once considered underdogs, are now fired up in the AL East race.
