BOSTON — Aaron Judge’s remarkable season has placed him in the spotlight, leading the league in numerous offensive statistics and drawing comparisons to legends like Babe Ruth and Barry Bonds. However, during a recent three-game series against the Red Sox at Fenway Park, the Yankees’ superstar struggled to leave a significant mark, with just one impactful swing to show for his efforts.
Judge’s only hit in the series came in the ninth inning of Friday’s game against Garrett Crochet, allowing the Yankees to force extra innings. Unfortunately for Judge and New York, he was unable to build on that momentum, ending the series with a dismal performance that saw him go hitless in Sunday’s 2-0 loss. Over the three games, he managed just one hit in twelve at-bats, coupled with nine strikeouts.
In a moment that encapsulated Judge’s struggles, his last chance to impact Sunday’s game slipped away in the eighth inning. With two runners on and one out, he faced Red Sox reliever Garrett Whitlock, who induced a ground ball that resulted in an inning-ending double play, snuffing out the Yankees’ best opportunity.
This series showcased a rare lapse in Judge’s usually disciplined approach at the plate. Speaking after the game, Judge acknowledged the importance of selecting good pitches to hit. “You’ve got to swing at strikes,” he noted. “It usually helps any hitter when you swing at strikes.”
The challenges Judge faced were compounded by effective pitching from Red Sox starters Brayan Bello and Whitlock. Throughout the series, Judge hit only .083, striking out three times in each game, a stark contrast to his prior performance at Yankee Stadium where he had two three-hit games.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora praised Judge’s prowess, calling it challenging to pitch to such a talented player. “Sometimes we do a good job with him; it’s always fun to compete against the best, and for me, he’s the best in the business right now,” Cora said.
Despite this weekend’s setback, Judge has demonstrated considerable growth in his game over the years. Still, ongoing struggles are part of the journey for any athlete. His lack of production was particularly concerning as the rest of the batting lineup faltered, leading to just four runs scored across the three games against the Red Sox.
Judge expressed the pressure to make something happen when things aren’t going right, acknowledging he has not taken a walk in four consecutive games, a first for this season. In Sunday’s matchup, the Yankees could muster only five hits, leaving Judge stranded in many critical moments.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone reflected on Judge’s performance, noting the difficulty of maintaining high standards at all times. “He had a massive hit to force extra innings the first night. That’s baseball. Hitting is hard. It’s hard to be perfect,” Boone said.
The Yankees will need to find a way to be less reliant on Judge’s power as they move forward, especially with the Red Sox gaining momentum in the AL East standings. Without Judge firing on all cylinders, opposing teams may find it easier to stifle the Yankees’ offense.
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