Yankees lose 11-9 to the Blue Jays on July 3, 2025, despite homers from Aaron Judge & Giancarlo Stanton. A wild comeback falls short in a heartbreaking loss.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a game that had everything: a disastrous start, a stunning comeback, and a gut-wrenching finish. The New York Yankees erased an eight-run deficit against the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday, only to fall 11-9 in a contest that perfectly encapsulated their recent struggles. The loss drops the Bombers to 48-38, creating a dead heat atop the AL East and leaving fans wondering which version of this team is the real one.
The Yankees have lost six of their last ten series and are just 13-18 since May 28.
The night began as a catastrophe. Starter Will Warren was shelled for seven runs in the first inning, and by the time he exited after four innings, the Yankees were staring at an 8-0 hole. But just when it seemed hopeless, the bats awoke. Giancarlo Stanton, in a much-needed sign of life, blasted his first home run of the season, a three-run shot that fueled a six-run sixth inning. The momentum culminated in the eighth when Aaron Judge, in a moment of pure MVP magic, launched his 31st homer of the year to tie the game 9-9, sending Yankee Stadium into a frenzy. The joy was short-lived, however, as a Devin Williams wild pitch in the bottom of the frame allowed George Springer to score the decisive run.
While the team result was a disappointment, Aaron Judge continues to build one of the great seasons in recent memory. His 3-for-4 night, capped by the game-tying homer, was another entry in his MVP case file. The performance came on the same day he was officially named an All-Star starter for the seventh time, leading all players in Phase 1 voting. He leads the AL in batting average (.363), homers (31), RBI (70), and runs (77). He also drew his 22nd intentional walk, putting him just one shy of Mickey Mantle's single-season franchise record. It's a season for the ages, but Thursday proved even his heroics can't always overcome the team's broader issues.
The loss underscores a troubling trend. The Yankees are just 13-18 since May 28 and have now lost six of their last ten series. Will Warren's implosion, which ballooned his ERA to 5.02, highlights the starting pitching's volatility. The offense has also been cooling significantly, with the team's OPS dropping from .829 in April to a meager .719 in June. These cracks are forcing the front office's hand, with reports linking the Yankees to versatile infielder/outfielder Willi Castro and potentially Eugenio Suarez to inject life and flexibility into the lineup before the trade deadline.
While the big-league club navigates its struggles, the future continues to look bright. Top shortstop prospect George Lombard Jr. was officially selected to participate in the All-Star Futures Game in Atlanta. It's a significant honor for the young star and a reminder of the talent pipeline the organization is building. His selection provides a welcome bit of good news and a reminder that help, in the long term, is on the way.
This loss stings, there's no way around it. Blowing a comeback of that magnitude to a division rival is a gut punch. The Yankees now find themselves in a day-to-day dogfight for the AL East crown. With the All-Star break looming and the trade deadline on the horizon, the next few weeks will define this team's identity. Can they find the consistency to support Judge's historic season, or will they need a significant move to get back on track? The pressure is on.
