Anthony Volpe, the Yankees’ automatic runner on second, attempted a daring steal of third base to open the frame. Facing Red Sox reliever Garrett Whitlock, Volpe bolted for third but was caught in a precise throw by catcher Carlos Narváez, who gunned him down at the bag. The play was a momentum-killer for the Yankees, who were looking to spark a rally against a tough Boston bullpen. Leading to another Yankee loss to the Red Sox, that makes the third in four games.
Had Volpe pushed his fingers down on the slide, we would all praise the Yankees’ heroics and Boone’s managerial genius, but here we are. The failed steal left New York with no runners on and an out, stifling their scoring threat. Manager Aaron Boone later defended Volpe’s aggression, noting the need to make plays in a tight game, but the call proved costly.
Boston capitalized in the bottom half when Narváez delivered a walk-off RBI single, scoring David Hamilton for a 2-1 Red Sox victory. Fans and analysts lamented the steal attempt, as Volpe’s speed was nullified by Narváez’s arm, turning a potential game-changer into a disheartening out that sealed New York’s fate.
The Yankees Struggles Against the Red Sox
Not without Judges’ Heroics
Speaking of Yankees heroics, Aaron Judge delivered a heroic moment that reignited New York’s hopes. Trailing 1-0 in the eighth inning, with the Yankees struggling against Boston’s pitching, Judge stepped up against reliever Kenley Jansen. With one out and the crowd buzzing at Fenway, Judge crushed a towering home run to left-center, tying the game at 1-1. The 425-foot blast, his 25th of the season, silenced the Boston faithful and shifted momentum. Judge’s clutch swing showcased his MVP-caliber prowess, setting the stage for extra innings. It seemed the Yankees were finally changing the tides against the permanently lowly Red Sox.
What’s the Yankee’s Problem with the Red Sox
Despite a strong 42-26 record and leading the AL East in 2025, they have struggled significantly against their archrivals, the Red Sox. They had a chance going into June to bury the Sox in the division with two series wins, but nope.
In their first series of the season at Yankee Stadium (June 6-8), Boston took two of three games, including an 11-7 rout powered by five Red Sox home runs, with Narváez’s three-run shot off former teammate Carlos Rodón proving pivotal. The Red Sox continued their dominance at Fenway Park (June 13-15) with a 2-1 walk-off victory in the opener on June 13, sealed by Narváez’s RBI single in the 10th after Anthony Volpe’s failed steal attempt.
One culprit is Boston’s pitcher Garrett Crochet, who exposed Yankee weaknesses, particularly in clutch situations. In his two games against the Bronx Bombers, he went 15 innings, giving up 10 hits while stringing out 16 Yanks, six of which were Captain Judge himself, before his revenge swat.
I don’t like to point elbows and blame others, but New York’s bullpen is a problem, a real problem, with a 4.17 ERA, faltered, and their 8-8 record against AL East teams highlights divisional struggles. Buzz on X from fans reflects frustration, noting Boston’s 5-42 batting with runners in scoring position yet still prevailing. Despite Judge’s heroics, and he is a hero, the Yankees’ inability to capitalize against Boston’s lineup has a black eye on the Yankees World Series run of 2025. The Bomber of 161st Street finished the series with two favorable pitching match-ups with Rodon and Fried on the mound to play out the weekend; hopefully, they can turn this back to even.
Main Image: David Butler II-Imagn Images
