Yankees Face Tough Series Against Angels

For the first time this season, the Yankees showcased their power hitting through a series. Interestingly, I found myself watching their pitcher handling extra base hits repeatedly.

On the last day of a challenging series, the Yankees struggled to manage the Angels’ lineup, ending with a significant loss of 11-4 on a sweltering Thursday in the Bronx.

The Yankees had only managed three home runs in their first 15 games, but in a surprising turn, they were hit for 13 home runs over these four games. Mike Trout led the charge with five home runs, while Joe Adell added two, punctuating the series with a grand slam off Ryan Yarbrough in the eighth inning.

By the close of the day, the Yankees (10-9) were teetering on the edge of a nine-game losing streak, a precarious situation avoided only by Jordan Romano’s two blasts in the ninth inning, which helped them secure two wins in this series. However, having lost seven of their last nine games isn’t a positive sign.

Two come-from-behind victories over Romano seemed like they could provide a spark for the Yankees to break out of their early slump, yet the results left much to be desired.

During the initial 15 games, the Yankees managed just 14 home runs. In this series, notable contributions came from Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and Ben Rice, who each hit home runs on Thursday, yet it wasn’t sufficient amid a lackluster afternoon.

In this matchup, Trout edged out Judge in a show of burgeoning power, becoming the first visiting player to hit home runs on four consecutive days at Yankee Stadium, according to MLB.com’s Sarah Langs. The Yankees struggled to contain Trout throughout the series.

Max Fried notably didn’t pitch a full seventh inning for the first time this season, leaving after just 5 1/3 innings. He was pulled following an RBI double from former Yankees player Oswaldo Peraza, along with a two-run home run that tied the game at 3-3.

Things took a turn when the Angels (10-10) managed to score four runs in the sixth inning, pushing their lead to 6-3. Fried exited with two runners on base, resulting in further scores when Fernando Cruz capitalized on the situation.

Vaughn Grissom delivered the Angels’ first hit with a ground ball that found its way past a diving Amed Rosario. This was followed by Josh Lowe’s nine-pitch showdown, ending when his bat broke, leading to a two-run hit into center field.

In the sixth inning, Rice’s go-ahead home run put the Yankees ahead at 6-4, but the game significantly shifted in the eighth. With two outs and runners on first and second, Yarbrough faced a balk call, resulting in Aaron Boone’s ejection just before the ninth inning. This maneuver led the Yankees to intentionally walk Trout to load the bases, which ultimately allowed Adell to hit a grand slam—an exclamation point to a power-packed series.