The New York Yankees sorely missed their three best players against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday evening. Losing by a score of 6-3, the offense simply wasn’t able to get going in the way it usually is. Tampa Bay is far less competitive in the Bronx than at Tropicana Field. However, the Astroturf in the dome hurt the Yankees more than a Rays did.
Without Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge, and DJ LeMahieu, the Yankees were forced to rely on alternatives like Tyler Wade, Thairo Estrada, Mike Ford, Clint Frazier, and Miguel Andujar. Ultimately, their abilities weren’t enough to overcome a strong Tampa pitching rotation and bullpen. It’s not for lack of opportunity, as the Yankees left the bases loaded in the seventh inning, as Luke Voit struck out and Gio Urshela grounded out to third.
Nonetheless, they are patiently waiting for slugger Aaron Judge to return to the lineup. The 6-foot-8 behemoth stated that he is 100% healthy and ready to go, but manager Aaron Boone had different words for the media.
“I hope so,†Boone told reporters on a video conference call. “We’ll see how the ramp up goes this week, as he ramps up the intensity with his running and his movements. I know he was hitting again (Tuesday), hit out on the field again (Tuesday) and I know he’s feeling really good, feeling like he is there. So, we’re at Tuesday right now. We’ll see where he is at the end of the week and hopefully be in a position to make that call and get him back in there.â€