Aaron Judge's 9th-inning HR wasn't enough as the Yankees fell 2-1 to the Red Sox on June 14. Recap Carlos Rodón's ace outing in this extra-inning heartbreaker.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
In a game that had all the classic elements of a Yankees-Red Sox showdown—a tense pitching duel, late-game drama, and managerial fireworks—the Bronx Bombers ended up on the wrong side of a 2-1 heartbreaker in 10 innings. Aaron Judge played the hero with a towering solo shot to tie it in the ninth, but a walk-off double off the Green Monster in the tenth sealed a frustrating loss for New York at Fenway Park.
Tough loss, but we’ll bounce back.
Before the late-inning chaos, this game was defined by a masterful performance from Carlos Rodón. The lefty was dialed in, carving up the Red Sox lineup for seven brilliant innings. He scattered five hits, allowed just a single run, and struck out eight batters, lowering his ERA to an impressive 2.87. It was the kind of ace performance you need in a hostile environment like Fenway, but the offense couldn't provide the support he deserved, managing just four hits all night.
With the Yankees down to their final outs and the offense sputtering, Aaron Judge did what he does best. The captain stepped up in the top of the ninth and launched a game-tying solo home run, his 26th of the season, into the Boston night. The blast silenced the Fenway crowd and injected life back into the Yankees' dugout. It was a clutch, MVP-level moment from a player who continues to carry the team's offense on his back.
The tenth inning brought chaos and controversy. After the Yankees failed to score, the Red Sox ended it with a walk-off double. The inning was also marked by a close call on a foul ball off the bat of DJ LeMahieu, which manager Aaron Boone vehemently argued was fair. His passionate defense of his player led to his ejection, adding another fiery chapter to his history with the umpiring crews. 'I thought it was a fair ball,' Boone said post-game. 'Emotions run high in these rivalry games.'
Despite the loss, the Yankees' defense was a major bright spot. The young core flashed the leather, with Jasson Domínguez making a spectacular highlight-reel catch in left field and Anthony Volpe showcasing his incredible range and arm on a tough play from deep in the hole at shortstop. These plays, which lit up social media, serve as a reminder of the exciting, athletic talent that forms the foundation of this team's future.
It's a bitter pill to swallow, losing to your arch-rival in this fashion. The sting of a walk-off at Fenway never gets easier. But the Yankees showed fight. Judge continues his MVP-caliber season, Rodón looks like a true ace, and the defense is electric. They'll need to shake this one off quickly and come back tomorrow with the bats woken up to support the pitching. The series is still up for grabs, and you can bet this team will be fired up for the next chapter of the rivalry.
