A change of venue Monday was not the cure for what’s ailing the New York Yankees.
But help is on the way. Manager Aaron Boone announced Monday after the team’s 8-5 loss to the Texas Rangers that Aaron Judge would return to the lineup Tuesday after missing 10 games due to a flexor strain in his right elbow.
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Judge was, indeed, listed as the designated hitter in the Yankees’ lineup Tuesday. He’s batting in his usual spot at No. 3 in the order. He’s not yet ready to return to his position in the outfield.
Judge returns to the lineup on the heels of a four-game Yankees losing streak, including Monday’s walk-off loss to the Rangers in extra innings.
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Yankees blow lead, lose on walk-off
The Yankees struck first Monday with a leadoff home run from Paul Goldschmidt, then took a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the second inning. Then the Rangers batted around in the second to take a 4-3 lead.
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The Yankees retook the lead and held a 5-4 advantage heading into the bottom of the ninth. There, pinch hitter Joc Pederson sent it to extras.
With the bases empty and one out, Pederson launched a 2-1 Devin Williams changeup into the right-field stands to tie the game 5-5.
The blown save was the third of the season for Williams, a two-time All-Star and lights-out closer during his time with the Milwaukee Brewers. With Pederson’s home run, Williams’ ERA in his first season in New York inflated to 5.10.
The blast set up Josh Jung for some 10th-inning heroics.
Josh Jung’s walk-off home run offered more misery for the Yankees.
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect / Reuters)
With a man on second and two outs, the Yankees intentionally walked Wyatt Langford to get to Jung in the six slot. Reliever Jake Bird left a 1-1 sinker thigh high and just inside that Jung turned on. The result was a no-doubt home run into the left-field stands that ended the game.
Yankees in free fall, face critical games vs. Rangers
The loss was the Yankees’ fourth straight following an unprecedented three-game sweep at the hands of the Miami Marlins. They’re now 7-10 since the All-Star break.
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The defeat dropped the once first-place Yankees to 60-53, 5.5 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL East and 2.5 games behind the rival Boston Red Sox, who won their sixth straight game on Monday. It also left the Yankees with a 1.5-game cushion over the Rangers and in a tie with the Seattle Mariners for the last wild-card spot in the American League.
This three-game series against the Rangers could end up proving critical for the postseason standings, and so far it’s going badly for New York.
Can Judge help Yankees turn things around?
Judge hasn’t played since July 25 due to the elbow injury that landed him on the injured list. He took batting practice over the weekend and will return to the lineup Tuesday on his first day of eligibility.
As the Yankees face a multitude of problems, Judge’s return can’t come soon enough.