Aaron Judge returns, but the Yankees' bullpen collapses in an 8-5 walk-off loss to the Rangers on Aug 5. Josh Jung's homer extends New York's losing streak.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was the best of news, it was the worst of news for Yankees fans on Tuesday. The collective sigh of relief as Aaron Judge was officially activated from the injured list was quickly replaced by a groan of frustration as the bullpen once again faltered, handing the Texas Rangers an 8-5 walk-off victory in 10 innings and extending the team's losing streak to a painful four games.
Josh Jung hit a walk-off three-run homer off Jake Bird in the 10th.
The script is becoming agonizingly familiar. The Yankees built a lead, with Paul Goldschmidt starting the scoring with a leadoff homer and Giancarlo Stanton adding a two-run shot to give starter Max Fried a 5-4 advantage when he left after five solid innings. But the bridge to the finish line collapsed. After Joc Pederson tagged Devin Williams for a game-tying solo shot in the ninth, the recently acquired Jake Bird entered in the tenth and promptly served up a walk-off, three-run blast to Josh Jung, sealing another gut-punch loss for the Bombers.
The brightest spot in a dreary stretch is the return of the captain. Aaron Judge is back after a minimum 10-day stint on the IL for a right elbow flexor strain. His bat, leadership, and presence were sorely missed, and his activation provides a much-needed jolt to a lineup that has struggled for consistency. Unfortunately, his return coincided with another player heading to the IL, as outfielder Austin Slater, who had been filling in, was sidelined with a left hamstring strain. It's the classic 'one step forward, one step back' for a team battling injuries.
The front office wasted no time reacting to the latest bullpen meltdown. Jake Bird's brief and disastrous tenure in pinstripes—marked by giving up a grand slam and a walk-off homer in just three appearances—came to an end as he was optioned to Triple-A. The team also designated JT Brubaker for assignment to clear roster space. In their place, the Yankees are hoping for fresh arms to stop the bleeding. Mark Leiter Jr. was activated from the IL, and Yerry De Los Santos gets the call-up from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, a move that shows the front office is looking for immediate answers.
With Judge back in the fold, the Yankees have their centerpiece. But one player, even one as impactful as Judge, can't pitch the late innings. The immediate future of this team rests on whether these bullpen changes can provide stability. The losing streak has put them in a precarious position, and they'll need to turn it around quickly, starting tomorrow. All eyes will be on the mound to see if the new arms can hold a lead and give this powerful offense a chance to win again.
