Boone defends dubicious bullpen use, Judge preps Yankees for Game 2

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The New York Yankees arrived at Dodger Stadium with serious momentum behind them. However, during the series opener against the defending World Series champions, their commanding 5-2 advantage dissolved in shocking fashion. Following an evening that witnessed ace Max Fried stumble for the first time this season and the Yankees relief corps unable to halt the damage, manager Aaron Boone and captain Aaron Judge faced questions about the 8-5 defeat.

The loss ended the Yankees’ five-game winning streak, yet both Boone and Judge emphasized accountability over alarm. Their message remained clear — no finger-pointing, no alibis. Just responsibility and determination to rebound.

“That’s what you want to play in,” Judge said of the electric Friday night atmosphere. “It was a fun game, big stage, but we didn’t finish it.”

Judge refuses to say Fried struggling

Max Fried entered Friday’s contest with a perfect 7-0 record and baseball’s premier 1.29 ERA. His remarkable run included 11 consecutive starts without yielding more than two earned runs. That impressive streak of the Yankees ace ended dramatically when Los Angeles’ dangerous middle lineup awakened in the sixth inning.

Following an opening-frame solo homer to Shohei Ohtani, Fried regrouped for three clean innings. The sixth frame proved catastrophic. Ohtani connected again, while Teoscar Hernández, Will Smith, and Freddie Freeman strung together consecutive hits.

“I don’t think he had his breaking ball working tonight,” the Yankees manager said. “In that sixth, he left a few pitches over the heart of the plate against really good hitters.”

Fried departed with two baserunners and no outs recorded, leaving the Yankees lead in serious jeopardy.

“I wouldn’t say that’s struggling,” Judge said of his teammate. “He’s been the best pitcher in the game all year.”

The damage was complete. Fried’s final statistics: six earned runs on eight hits across five-plus innings, pushing his ERA to 1.92.

Boone’s bullpen call sparks debate

Boone’s choice to replace Fried with Jonathan Loaisiga before turning to Tim Hill generated immediate postgame scrutiny. Andy Pages delivered the tying hit while Michael Conforto drew a crucial bases-loaded walk, handing Los Angeles control.

But the Yankees manager defended his strategic moves after the game.

“I was going Hill to get the ball on the ground,” he said. “Conforto’s a lefty, and we didn’t expect them to use [Mookie] Betts in that spot. Tim’s usually a strike-thrower, but it just didn’t go our way.”

The Yankees’ bullpen, among baseball’s finest through May, simply failed to deliver.

“The bullpen has been outstanding all year,” Boone said. “Tonight just wasn’t one of those nights.”

Judge focuses on team, not individual narratives

Among the evening’s highlights came early when Judge and Ohtani exchanged towering solo homers in the opening inning — marking the first time in baseball history that reigning MVPs homered in identical innings.

Judge’s blast came off a 90-mph fastball. Ohtani responded in the bottom half with a 417-foot rocket on Fried’s initial offering. Judge also added a double and made a spectacular diving catch in right-center field.

“I felt like he was copying me,” Judge said jokingly. “He’s one of the best players in the game, and it was fun to go toe-to-toe like that.”

Judge maintained team focus over individual narratives.

“I’ve got a job to do — make plays, score runs. That’s all I focus on. You guys can handle the storylines.”

Early surge, silent finish

New York’s offense erupted immediately, hammering Dodgers starter Tony Gonsolin for four homers across three innings. Austin Wells, Trent Grisham, and Paul Goldschmidt joined Judge in the early power display.

After Goldschmidt’s third-inning blast established a 5-2 lead, the Yankees generated only one baserunner throughout the remainder of the game.

“We just didn’t capitalize late,” Judge said. “We had some chances but couldn’t get that big hit.”

He identified the Dodgers’ lineup core — Ohtani, Freeman, Smith — as the decisive factor.

“That was their third time through. You can’t give them anything.”

Backing Fried, looking forward

Despite Fried’s difficult evening, Judge expressed unwavering support for the team’s ace.

“That’s why he’s here,” Judge said. “You want a guy who takes it personally. He’s been leading us all year. We feed off that energy.”

Boone rejected suggestions that the Dodgers’ previous exposure to Fried during his Atlanta tenure created significant advantages.

“At the end of the day, it came down to execution,” he said. “He missed his spots, and they jumped on him.”

Postseason vibes in May

Dodger Stadium’s atmosphere resembled October baseball. The crowd buzzed with electricity, marquee matchups filled every inning, and each pitch carried tremendous significance.

“Anywhere we go feels like a playoff atmosphere,” Judge said. “But sure, facing a team like the Dodgers, with the crowd, the energy — it’s fun.”

Boone shared similar observations.

“There were a lot of stars on that field tonight,” he said. “Some of the best players in the world going at it.”

Game 2: A chance to respond

The Yankees, currently 35-21, remain deadlocked with Baltimore atop the American League East. Saturday presents an opportunity to reset the series trajectory. Judge, the consummate competitor, maintained a proper perspective.

“There was still a lot of ballgames left,” he said. “It didn’t feel like momentum flipped completely. We just didn’t execute when it mattered.”

That execution — from the mound, at the plate, and defensively — will determine New York’s ability to level the series.

“We’ll be ready tomorrow,” Judge said. “That’s the beauty of this game. You get another shot.”

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