The New York Yankees’ season took a turn for the worse on Thursday when they were swept by the Cincinnati Reds, marking the first time the Reds have swept the Yankees in a three-game series this season. The Reds led 8-4 by the ninth inning, and the Yankees were unable to mount a comeback. A costly error by Trent Grisham in the outfield added to the frustration of fans, with Grisham’s lackluster effort drawing boos from the crowd. Despite the error, the Reds weren’t able to capitalize on the mistake, and the inning ended with a strikeout by Spencer Steer.
Starting pitcher Marcus Stroman struggled in the game, allowing three home runs and five earned runs in five innings of work. The Yankees have now lost 13 of their last 17 games, falling from first place in the AL East to 2 games back. Even Aaron Judge, who has been hitting like an MVP, went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in the game. The team’s offensive struggles have drawn criticism, including from Judge’s hitting coach, Richard Schenck, who called the Yankees’ offensive player development “terrible.”
The Yankees will look to turn things around in their upcoming home series against the Boston Red Sox, followed by a crucial road trip against the Baltimore Orioles before the All-Star break. The team will need to find a way to right the ship in order to avoid falling further behind in the division standings.