The New York Yankees managed to win a crucial series against the Toronto Blue Jays before facing the Detroit Tigers, though their latest victory (4-3) was marked by several circumstances that show the issues plaguing Aaron Boone‘s team are far from resolved.
Judge returns to the outfield with doubts, while Volpe continues making errors
The Yankees took an early lead thanks to a first-inning home run by Ben Rice, which drove in Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger. Rice, who went 1-for-4 in the second game of the series while filling in for Paul Goldschmidt at first base, continues to solidify himself as one of the team’s most reliable offensive pieces. This season, he’s slashing .243/.332/.479 with 23 home runs and 54 RBIs.
But it wasn’t all good news in the Bronx. Anthony Volpe was once again in the spotlight for the wrong reasons: the shortstop committed his 19th error of the year, a figure that ranks him second in the league for errors, only behind Elly De La Cruz. His defensive inconsistency and the three strikeouts he racked up today sparked frustration among the fans, who booed him as he left the field. Despite this, the front office remains steadfast in their decision to keep him as the starting shortstop.
Judge didn’t escape scrutiny either. In his return to the outfield, he raised concerns about his physical condition: in the second inning, he avoided throwing to home plate on two clear opportunities, opting for soft tosses that put Jazz Chisholm and Volpe in tough spots. While he partially redeemed himself with a spectacular diving catch in the fourth, his lack of arm strength has reignited questions about whether he’s truly ready to handle the defensive demands of his position.
In the bottom of the third, Bellinger hit a decisive double that drove in Judge and gave the Yankees a 4-3 lead they would not relinquish.
Starter Max Fried delivered a solid seven innings, allowing three runs on six hits while striking out four before exiting with the lead. Devin Williams, often criticized for his fragility in high-pressure situations, navigated the eighth inning, allowing just one hit and one walk. Finally, David Bednar sealed the victory in the ninth, earning his 22nd save and cementing his role as the team’s undisputed closer.
With this win, the Yankees are now just two games behind the Blue Jays and maintain a two-game lead over the Red Sox in the race for the top of the American League East.
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