The New York Yankees defeated the Boston Red Sox on Sunday evening by a score of 9-7. There were many ups and downs in this game, accompanied by poor pitching on the Yankees side. The Red Sox gave the Bombers every opportunity to climb back into the game and secure the win, and Aaron Judge capitailized on a Matt Barnes curve-ball that was left up over the plate. He subsequently smashed it into the bleachers.
The Yankees finished the series with three of three wins, bringing their overall record to 7-1. They’re playing exceptionally well and have dominated offensively. However, their pitching has been spotty at times, and they could use some more consistency in the bullpen.
The good news is that Aaron Judge is playing out of his mind. He hit a home run for the fifth consecutive game on Sunday, tying a Yankee record.
Judge is currently hitting .267 on the year with a .800 slugging percentage. He is on pace for 45 home runs this season. While that is an unrealistic number, it attests to the hot streak he’s currently on.
The Yankee slugger also had an impressive defense of play, making a shoestring catch on a liner to right field.
The bad news is all about pitching. Starter James Paxton was batted around, lasting just three innings. Over 62 pitches, he allowed seven hits, five runs, and one homer. He did strike out four batters but currently has a 13.50 ERA. It is clear that something is wrong with Paxton, whether it be lasting effects from his back surgery earlier this year, or an alternative reason. His fastball velocity is down significantly, and his pitches don’t seem to have the same bite on them.
Manager Aaron Boone stated that Paxton feels good, but it seems he just isn’t himself yet. Whether there is some discomfort in his lower back that is causing his mechanics to change, he desperately needs to elevate his play the Yankees wish to continue relying on him.
This post was published on 2020-08-03 07:30
