Anthony Volpe's 20th homer wasn't enough as the Yankees' bullpen collapsed in an 8-4 loss to the Blue Jays on July 24, 2025. A familiar story of late-game struggles.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
For a fleeting moment, it felt like the script was flipped. When Anthony Volpe launched a game-tying home run in the sixth inning Wednesday night, there was a surge of hope. But as has happened too often this season, that hope was quickly extinguished by a faltering bullpen, leading to a deflating 8-4 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays and leaving fans with a bitter sense of déjà vu.
With his game-tying blast, Anthony Volpe reached the 20-home run milestone for the second consecutive season, cementing his status as a core power threat.
The game turned on a dime. Max Fried battled to keep the Yankees in it, and in the top of the sixth, Anthony Volpe delivered the heroic moment. He went up and out of the strike zone to crush a pitch to left, knotting the score at 4-4 and injecting life into the Yankees' dugout. The celebration, however, was short-lived. The bullpen, tasked with holding the line, crumbled. A costly wild pitch and some shaky defense allowed the Blue Jays to pile on runs late, turning a tight contest into a comfortable win for Toronto. It was a textbook example of the team's biggest weakness undoing its greatest strengths.
Let's be clear: despite the loss, Anthony Volpe is having a special season. His homer last night was his 20th of the year, marking the second straight season he's reached that plateau. It's a significant milestone that showcases his evolution from a promising prospect to a legitimate power-hitting shortstop. Even manager Aaron Boone, in his postgame comments, couldn't help but praise Volpe's approach and consistent production. In a season of ups and downs, Volpe's performance has been a steady, thrilling beacon of hope for the future.
As of Thursday, the cavalry isn't coming. The trade deadline looms, but for now, there are no new transactions or roster moves to shore up the team's weak points. The farm system is quiet, and the coaching staff remains the same. This means the solution to the bullpen's woes must come from the current roster. The pressure is mounting on the relief corps to find its form, because nights like last night—where a brilliant offensive play is wasted—are unsustainable for a team with championship aspirations.
The Yankees leave Toronto with another loss to a division rival, and the questions are only getting louder. While we can celebrate the continued ascent of Anthony Volpe, the team can't afford to keep spotting opponents leads in the late innings. With the AL East standings getting tighter, the Yankees need to solve their bullpen problem, and they need to do it now. The talent is there, but the execution needs to follow, starting with the next series.
