Aaron Judge is back and so are the Yankees.<\/p>\n
The slumping slugger came through with a game-winning, two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth on Sunday in a 2-0 win over Tampa Bay on a wet, chilly day in The Bronx.<\/p>\n
The Yankees entered having dropped three straight- and scoring a total of three runs in that stretch \u2014 with Judge in the midst of a 1-for-24 funk.<\/p>\n
But Trent Grisham led off the bottom of the ninth with a walk and was replaced by pinch-runner Max Schuemann.<\/p>\n
Judge followed with an opposite-field shot off Kevin Kelly to end it, as the Yankees cut the Rays\u2019 lead atop the AL East over the Yankees to 4 \u00bd games.<\/p>\n
The Yankees got seven scoreless innings from Ryan Weathers, as the left-hander bounced back from a tough start against Toronto.<\/p>\n
Weathers was locked in a duel with Tampa Bay right-hander Drew Rasmussen, who also pitched seven shutout innings after blanking the Yankees for six innings on April 12.<\/p>\n
After Weathers stranded Nick Fortes following a one-out double in the second, Tampa Bay threatened again in the third, with runners on the corners and one out.<\/p>\n
Weathers responded by getting Junior Caminero to hit into an inning-ending double play.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Yankees\u2019 Aaron Judge looks after his two-run walk-off home run during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Sunday, May 24, 2026. AP Photo\/Seth Wenig<\/p>\n
Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) rounds the bases on his two-run walk-off home run during the ninth inning when the New York Yankees played the Tampa Bay Rays Sunday, May 24, 2026. Robert Sabo for NY Post<\/p>\n
The left-hander allowed just a pair of walks the rest of the way, as Weathers tossed seven scoreless innings before being replaced by Fernando Cruz to start the eighth.<\/p>\n
Cruz gave up a one-out double to Yandy Diaz and Jonathan Aranda followed with a liner to right-center, where Judge made a great diving catch.<\/p>\n
An intentional walk to Caminero led to Ryan Vilade\u2019s single to left.<\/p>\n
Pinch-runner Oliver Dunn seemed set to score the go-ahead run, but Cody Bellinger alertly threw to third base in time to get Caminero at third before Dunn was able to get to the plate, so the game remained scoreless.<\/p>\n
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Tim Hill walked Fortes with one out in the ninth, but Taylor Walls\u2019 bunt went right to Paul Goldschmidt and the first baseman got the force at second.<\/p>\n
A Cedric Mullins single extended the inning for Richie Palacios, who struck out.<\/p>\n
The Yankees won it in the bottom of the inning for just their fifth win in 15 games.<\/p>\n
Prior to the game, Aaron Boone said, \u201cIt\u2019s been a crappy couple weeks for us, result-wise, but I feel like we\u2019re in a good place team-wise. I feel we have a good run in us here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) rounds the bases on his two-run walk-off game-winning home run. Robert Sabo for NY Post<\/p>\n
Yankees pitcher Ryan Weathers (40) walks back to the dugout after ending the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium, Sunday, May 24, 2026. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST<\/p>\n
Yankees pitcher Ryan Weathers (40) walks back to the dugout after ending the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium, Sunday, May 24, 2026,<\/p>\n
Their drop in the standings has been the result of an offense that had was 25th in the majors in runs scored since May 8.<\/p>\n