Aaron Judge's 31st homer wasn't enough as the Yankees lost 11-9 to the Blue Jays on July 3, 2025. Despite a huge comeback, the Yanks' AL East lead is gone.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It's a story becoming all too familiar in the Bronx: Aaron Judge does something superhuman, and the Yankees still find a way to lose. Last night's gut-wrenching 11-9 defeat to the Blue Jays was a microcosm of the team's recent freefall. A furious comeback from an eight-run deficit was wasted, and just like that, the Yankees' once-comfortable lead in the AL East is gone. They now sit tied with the very same Blue Jays, staring down a crucial series finale with more questions than answers.
Aaron Judge was intentionally walked for the 22nd time this season, one shy of Mickey Mantle's single-season Yankees record.
The game felt over before it began. Starter Will Warren was shelled for seven runs in the first inning, ultimately allowing eight runs on ten hits over just four frames. But just when fans were ready to change the channel, the bats came alive. A six-run sixth inning, powered by Giancarlo Stanton's long-awaited first homer of the season, brought the team back to life. Then, in the eighth, Aaron Judge did what he does best, launching his 31st homer to tie the game at 9-9. The euphoria was short-lived, however, as Toronto scraped across two runs in the bottom of the inning, the go-ahead run scoring on a wild pitch, to seal the devastating 11-9 loss.
While the team struggles, Aaron Judge is putting together one of the great offensive seasons in recent memory. His 3-for-4 night included that game-tying homer, a double, and three RBIs. He now leads all of baseball with a .363 batting average, is second in home runs (31), and third in RBIs (70). He's being pitched around so often he's on the verge of history, with his 22 intentional walks putting him just one shy of Mickey Mantle's team record. It's a testament to his dominance, but also a glaring indictment of the lineup protection around him.
Last night wasn't an anomaly; it was a symptom of a month-long trend. The Yankees are just 13-18 since May 28 and have lost six of their last ten series. The offense has seen its OPS drop each month, from .829 in April to a paltry .719 in June. With Trent Grisham and Paul Goldschmidt cooling off, the holes in the lineup are becoming more apparent. It's no surprise, then, that reports are linking the Yankees to versatile switch-hitter Willi Castro. His ability to play third base and the outfield would provide much-needed flexibility and a spark for a team that desperately needs one.
All eyes now turn to Clarke Schmidt, the steady right-hander tasked with stopping the bleeding in today's rubber match. It's more than just a series finale; it's a battle for sole possession of first place and a chance to prove this team can pull out of its nosedive. With the trade deadline looming and the offense sputtering, the pressure is mounting. Can Judge's historic run and a clutch start from Schmidt be enough to right the ship, or is this slide a sign of deeper issues that only a major move can fix?
