Yankees in Crisis: Zero Runs and 5 Straight Losses, Judge in a Bad Moment

New York – The New York Yankees, who for almost three months displayed one of the most potent offenses in Major League Baseball, are going through a difficult time. In the last three days, the story has changed radically. The team was shut out for the third consecutive time on Tuesday, falling 4-0 to the Los Angeles Angels. This loss extends their losing streak to five straight games, the worst of the season, and lengthens their astonishing scoreless streak to 29 innings. The Yankee Stadium crowd expressed their discontent with boos. The Yankees haven’t scored since the ninth inning on Saturday against the Boston Red Sox. In their first 69 games of the season, they had only been shut out twice.

It’s a little slump in the last few days, something that, unfortunately, can happen.
Aaron Boone, Yankees Manager

This is the seventh time in franchise history that the Yankees have been shut out in three straight games. The 29-inning scoreless streak is the longest since September 2016, when they went 33 innings without scoring. During this streak, they have accumulated 33 strikeouts and left 24 runners on base. In the last six games, they have scored only five runs.

There’s always a point where things don’t go the way you want and you feel it.
Cody Bellinger, Yankees outfielder

On Tuesday, Kyle Hendricks controlled the Yankees. The right-handed pitcher, known for his moderate velocity, limited the Yankees to four hits with nine strikeouts and one walk in six innings. Hendricks achieved 13 swings and misses with his 98 pitches, none of which reached 90 mph. Boone noticed that his players felt the pressure as the zeros accumulated.

You want to be the one to connect the hit, the one to start the play. But that’s where patience comes in. You can’t obsess over the result. You can’t go up there thinking, ‘I have to connect a hit. I have to do this.’ It has to be, ‘I have to have a good at-bat.’ And when you do that, that’s when the pitches appear in your zone and that’s when you take advantage. And this group will do it.
Aaron Boone, Yankees Manager

Bellinger revealed that the players talked about the difficulties in the locker room after the game. The message was clear: Remember who we are and stay focused.

We had good conversations. I’ve been part of many teams. It’s a small bump in the road we’re on and we have to get out of it. Good teams overcome this.
Cody Bellinger, Yankees outfielder

This offensive slump coincides with the worst moment for Aaron Judge in an outstanding season. The two-time American League Most Valuable Player is batting 1-11 with six strikeouts and two intentional walks in the three scoreless losses. In his last five games, Judge is batting 2-20 with 13 strikeouts and one home run. His batting average has dropped from .394 to .372 during this period.

On Tuesday, Judge went 0-4 with three strikeouts. He was struck out on three pitches by the left-hander Reid Detmers in his last at-bat in the eighth inning, which drew boos from the home crowd.