Aaron Judge And The Rest Of The Yankees' Bats Were Silenced In Game 2 And Now The ALDS Is Tied Heading Back To Kansas City

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That sucked. Game 2 of the ALDS was a carbon copy of a typical 2024 Yankees loss. Lefty pitching dominated them from the jump and the offense failed to come up with the big hit. I guess that script spans further than the 2024 season, it's more or less how the Yankees have failed in the postseason over the last decade. 

Cole Ragans was designed to shutdown the Yankees lineup. The thing is the lineup did a nice job of working his pitch count and getting him out of the game early. Big problem? They had trouble hitting the Royals relievers who followed, especially the lefties in Zerpa and Bubic. 

The bottom of the first inning changed the whole course of the night. Gleyber and Soto worked walks to set up New York with first and second with nobody out. That brought Aaron Judge and his narrative that he can't produce in October up to the plate. Just do something man. Anything. At the very least move the runners. Nope, he would strike out. Fucking brutal. Just digging himself a bigger and bigger hole by the at bat. Wells and Stanton followed suit with nothing which stranded the runners and allowed the Royals to breathe. From that point on the Yankees didn't really threaten a big inning until it was too late. 

Carlos Rodon started for the Yankees. His first three innings were brilliant, but everything fell apart in the 4th. His night concluded after the 9 hitter Garrett Hampson drove in the Royals 3rd run with two outs and two strikes. Can't happen. In the blink of an eye he was out of the game. He was so cocky in the first inning after striking out the side, only to fail to complete four innings of work. Embarrassing for the money he’s paid. Four runs were all the KC pitching needed to get by in this one. While Rodon ultimately served up a dud, the Yankees pen did an awesome job to keep them in the game. The offense just couldn't break through.

Now the series is tied heading back to Kansas City where a raucous crowd awaits. Clarke Schmidt vs. Seth Lugo. If the Yankees season is to live on past this week then Aaron Judge is going to have to be Aaron Judge. You can't have the best hitting season by a right hander in baseball history and disappear like this. Now he did reach on an infield single late in the game. Baseball is weird and very mental. Maybe that will get him going? Just see one go through the hoop. Maybe I'm desperately reaching. Either way this on him. Soto had an off night but he gets a pass after his great game one. 99 has been irrelevant. Wake up and carry this team. 

P.S. Stanton did have an RBI infield single in this game, but if he's not hitting for power what good is he? His lack of mobility is really hurting the team. They won't do it, but I'd bench him for Dominguez and try to spark something in Game 3. 

P.P.S. I hate this quote from Jazz. The Yankees are lucky to not be down 2-0 considering how Game 1 unfolded. Everyone needs to show up on Wednesday and mash.