The Yankees bullpen collapsed again on Aug 5, as Josh Jung's walk-off homer gave the Rangers an 8-5 win. See how Devin Williams and Jake Bird faltered late.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a script Yankees fans have seen far too many times this season. A hard-fought lead, a glimpse of victory, and then... heartbreak. The Bronx Bombers snatched defeat from the jaws of victory Tuesday night in Texas, falling 8-5 to the Rangers on a 10th-inning walk-off home run, extending their agonizing losing streak to four games.
The loss dropped New York to 60-53, a season-high 5.5 games behind the AL East-leading Blue Jays.
The frustration is palpable because this was a winnable game. All-Star lefty Max Fried battled through five innings, handing a 5-4 lead to the bullpen. But the supposed strength of this team, newly fortified at the deadline, crumbled. First, new closer Devin Williams served up a game-tying solo shot to pinch-hitter Joc Pederson in the ninth. Then, in the tenth, after an intentional walk loaded the bases, Jake Bird gave up the ghost: a three-run, walk-off blast to Josh Jung that sent the Yankees packing. It was a brutal end to a night that started promisingly with a Paul Goldschmidt leadoff homer.
If there's a light at the end of this dark, four-game tunnel, it's wearing number 99. Manager Aaron Boone confirmed that Aaron Judge is expected to return from the IL during this series against the Rangers. The captain's absence has been felt in every phase of the game, and his bat is desperately needed to jumpstart a lifeless offense. Before his minor injury, Judge was authoring an MVP-caliber season, hitting .342 with 37 home runs and 85 RBIs. Getting that production back, even initially as a DH, could be the jolt this team needs to wake up from its slump.
While the bullpen falters, the front office is still trying to patch other holes. The team announced the signing of veteran righty Kenta Maeda to a minor league deal. At 37, Maeda isn't a savior, but he's a respected arm with a career 4.03 ERA who provides much-needed starting pitching depth. It's a low-risk move that signals the organization knows the rotation needs insurance, especially with the bullpen suddenly looking like a liability rather than a lockdown force.
The Yankees are at a crossroads. The bullpen reinforcements have yet to pay dividends, and the team is sliding in the standings at the worst possible time. The rest of this Rangers series is now critical. All eyes will be on the lineup card, waiting for Aaron Judge's name to reappear. His return can't come soon enough; the question is whether it will be enough to stop the bleeding and right this ship before it's too late.
