World Series: Yankees’ Aaron Judge faces A-Rod’s critique, shifts between hero and villain in Game 5

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Despite the Yankees’ heartbreaking loss in the World Series, Aaron Judge became the focal point of both stellar plays and critical errors in Game 5 against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Yankee Stadium.

Aaron Judge wasted no time making an impact, launching a three-run homer in the first inning that put the Yankees up 3-0, injecting energy into the Bronx crowd just moments after Jazz Chisholm’s solo shot opened the game. The Yankees seemed poised for a strong outing with that early lead.

But in the fifth inning, everything came crashing down in what will be remembered as one of the Yankees’ worst defensive breakdowns in recent postseason history, exacerbating the pressure of a 15-year championship drought.

Yankees collapse in fifth, Dodgers rally to tie the game

The Yankees’ lead dissolved as defensive blunders marred the fifth inning, allowing the Dodgers to claw back. Aaron Judge misjudged a routine fly ball in center, setting off a chain reaction of fielding mishaps. Bases loaded, no outs, and a sequence of miscues followed—Gerrit Cole failed to cover first base on a grounder by Mookie Betts, giving Kiké Hernández a scoring opportunity. Freddie Freeman then added a two-run single, narrowing the Yankees’ lead to 5-3. The disaster culminated with Teoscar Hernández’s double, which brought in two more runs, tying the game.

Fielding missteps by Aaron Judge and Anthony Volpe spark Dodgers’ comeback

Kiké Hernandez’s single and Judge’s misplay on a fly ball sparked the Dodgers’ rally. A subsequent throwing error by Anthony Volpe at third only added fuel to the fire. Giancarlo Stanton briefly restored a one-run lead with a sacrifice fly, but the Dodgers soon pulled ahead for good.

Just hours earlier, Alex Rodriguez had commented on Aaron Judge’s Game 4 performance, hinting at the added scrutiny on the Yankees’ captain amid his recent slump. “He’ll never admit it, but it matters,” Rodriguez said. “Everyone talks about it. Everyone’s watching, and it compounds. If I were the opposition, I wouldn’t let him see the light of day.”

Judge’s early home run seemed a response to A-Rod’s remarks, underscoring his role in the Yankees’ championship push. Yet, the fifth-inning errors ultimately overshadowed his offensive contributions, casting a shadow over a performance that began with so much promise.

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