CHICAGO – The New York Yankees faced heightened expectations as they entered a three-game series at Guaranteed Rate Field, home to the struggling Chicago White Sox, the worst team in Major League Baseball. With the Yankees in a tie for the AL East lead and the White Sox already desperate to avoid a record-setting poor season, a sweep seemed essential.
The White Sox had recently broken a 21-game losing streak, yet they had lost 24 of their last 25 games as they prepared to face the Yankees. The matchup was widely seen as a significant mismatch.
“When we don’t win it, it’s usually catastrophic. When we do win, it is what it is,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone commented, seemingly anticipating the question before his team suffered an unexpected 12-2 defeat.
Compounding the Yankees’ frustrations was the injury to Jazz Chisholm Jr., who left the game in the seventh inning after a head-first slide into home resulted in a left elbow injury. He is scheduled for an MRI and further evaluation on Tuesday after initial X-rays returned negative results.
The Yankees struggled to capitalize on their opportunities, with Alex Verdugo reflecting on the game as “just a normal day” in the long season, despite the White Sox’s struggles. “Yeah, they’re one of the worst teams, but these guys are still big leaguers. They can have good days,” Verdugo said, emphasizing the need for better performance when runners are on base.
In a night of missed chances, the Yankees went an alarming 2-for-18 with runners in scoring position, leaving 16 runners stranded. Boone lamented that while they couldn’t seem to break through offensively, the bigger issue was unable to control the White Sox’s scoring.
Yankees starter Luis Gil struggled, giving up four runs in four innings. “Frustrating,” he said about his performance, adding that he felt the White Sox capitalized on their opportunities. Conversely, the White Sox excelled, going 10-for-17 with runners in scoring position.
Aaron Judge, chasing his 300th career home run, ended the second inning by flying out with the bases loaded, contributing to a disappointing outing offensively for the Yankees. Judge did manage an RBI double in the first inning, but his teammates struggled to deliver in crucial situations, leaving numerous runners on base.
Overall, the Yankees’ performance was a source of disappointment for their fan base as they faced the stark reality of their struggles against an underperforming team.