Yankees Shine Despite Judge’s Absence
PHOENIX — The Yankees kicked off their game without Aaron Judge on a surprisingly positive note.
In a nod to Judge, who has greatly impacted their early-game performance, the Yankees scored five runs in the first inning. Gerrit Cole then stepped up, delivering a solid bounce-back start, helping the team to a 9-2 victory over the Diamondbacks.
Coming into the game, Cole had allowed seven home runs in his previous two outings. While he surrendered another long ball during this game, he managed to limit it to just one, showcasing his resilience.
This game followed news of Judge being placed on the injured list due to a right calf strain, casting uncertainty on his postseason availability. With this win, the Yankees (89-64) moved closer to the Rays in the division, now just four games back, while maintaining a 5 ¹/₂ game lead over the Red Sox in the AL wild card race.
“It’s disappointing for Aaron, and I’m sure he feels the same way,” Cole remarked. “But we’ve dealt with this before, and we know how to respond. Our mindset was strong tonight, and we played well, which is crucial regardless of who’s in the lineup. Aaron puts in the work, and he’ll be back soon enough. Meanwhile, we’ve got to hold it down.”
Unless the Rays struggle significantly, the Yankees are poised to face the Red Sox in the AL wild-card series. Boone had mentioned earlier that he expects Cole to pitch in that series, despite the recent challenges he’s faced on the mound.
Cole demonstrated his ability to manage the game effectively, throwing six innings and allowing only two runs. The runs he gave up came from a two-run homer by Corbin Carroll, which came from a fastball that hasn’t been his best pitch lately.
Though Cole generated just four swings-and-misses against 20 fastballs, he managed to navigate through the game effectively.
“People might have overreacted to a few bad outings,” Boone commented. “He’s had an impressive season, and great pitchers like him can adjust when they hit a rough patch.”
The veteran right-hander struck out six batters without any walks and allowed only four hits, all off his fastball, facing a Diamondbacks team that is currently on the outside looking in for the NL wild card.
Boone noted that Cole had worked hard between starts to refine his delivery, and Cole acknowledged it wasn’t quite perfect, but progress was made. “We can improve, but it’s a step in the right direction. It’s a tough gig at this level,” he said.
The Yankees provided Cole with a solid 5-0 lead before he even took the mound, putting pressure on Diamondbacks’ All-Star lefty Eduardo Rodríguez early on.
The first five batters all reached base with various approaches, setting the tone for the inning. Following that, George Lombard Jr. drove in two with a single, extending the lead.
Rice, who recently returned from injury, added a solo home run, marking his 39th of the season—an accomplishment Boone predicted back in spring training. Lombard then contributed with a homer of his own in the sixth, punctuating the Yankees’ offensive momentum.
“It’s tough, missing Judge again so soon after he just came back,” Rice said, who also tallied a triple and two walks. “But we have to keep pushing forward and stay focused on our game.”
