Yankees crush A’s 12-5, but stare at lop-sided offensive reality
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Follow UsThe New York Yankees broke out of their offensive drought Sunday with a commanding 12-5 win against A’s at Yankee Stadium. Aaron Judge smashed two home runs while Jazz Chisholm Jr. drove in four runs to lead the attack. Despite the impressive scoring display, the production came from just three hitters, highlighting ongoing concerns about lineup consistency.
Explosive day ends scoring drought
After managing only three hits Saturday, the Yankees posted their highest run total since a 13-run outburst on May 24. The offensive explosion began early with Chisholm delivering four RBIs in the first two innings. Judge broke out of his recent struggles with homers No. 29 and 30 this season. Cody Bellinger capped the scoring spree with a fifth-inning three-run shot.
The Yankees have now reached double digits in runs 12 times this season. However, this breakthrough followed a disappointing stretch where they averaged just 2.8 runs over 16 games.
The offensive awakening provided much-needed relief after weeks of inconsistent production. But the numbers tell a deeper story. Judge, Chisholm, and Bellinger accounted for seven of the team’s nine hits and all 12 RBIs. The lack of balanced scoring remains a persistent issue.
Judge breaks out of slump, makes Yankees history
Aaron Judge ended his recent cold spell in spectacular fashion Sunday. His two-homer performance marked his 44th career multi-homer game, moving him past Yankees legend Lou Gehrig into third place on the franchise’s all-time list.
The slugger entered the game batting .200 over his previous 11 contests. He dealt with back soreness before the game but credited the designated hitter role with improving his mechanics.
“Just got to come the next day and just go to work,” Judge said about overcoming his recent struggles.
His fourth-inning two-run blast energized the Yankee Stadium crowd. The seventh-inning solo shot provided additional insurance in the blowout victory.
Chisholm provides early fireworks
Jazz Chisholm Jr. set the tone with aggressive early offense. He launched a first-pitch sinker from former Yankees pitcher Luis Severino over the right field wall in the second inning. In the next frame, he cleared the bases with a sharp triple to right-center field after an A’s outfield error.
The early offensive surge built a 5-0 advantage and gave the Yankees their first comfortable lead in weeks.
“That hit we’ve been looking for,” manager Aaron Boone said about the team’s recent struggles with runners in scoring position.
Chisholm briefly worried fans when he released his bat after a checked swing later in the game. He confirmed afterward he was fine. The performance was encouraging for a player still recovering from the oblique injury that cost him time in May.
Stroman returns strong after injury
Marcus Stroman made a successful comeback from his knee injury Sunday. The right-hander allowed just one run over five innings while mixing six different pitches effectively. He never reached 91 mph but didn’t need overpowering stuff with the Yankees’ offensive support.
Stroman focused on inducing weak contact rather than strikeouts. His approach worked perfectly as the Yankees’ bats provided plenty of run support.
The veteran’s return comes at a crucial time. The Yankees rotation continues dealing with Gerrit Cole’s season-long absence and inconsistent performances from other starters.
Bellinger stays hot amid team struggles
Cody Bellinger continued his steady production with a three-run homer in the fifth inning. While other Yankees hitters have struggled recently, Bellinger has maintained consistent offensive output.
His reliable performance has kept the Yankees competitive during their recent offensive struggles. Bellinger’s strong play will likely fuel trade deadline speculation as the Yankees evaluate their roster needs heading into July.
Concerns remain despite big win
The explosive offensive display couldn’t mask underlying issues with the Yankees’ lineup depth. Only three players recorded multiple hits on Sunday. Two regular starters went hitless again. The dominant performance came exclusively from the heart of the batting order.
Boone acknowledged the team’s recent inconsistencies: “You’re going to have little peaks and valleys here or there — last couple weeks have been a little tough for us.”
The victory provides temporary relief from criticism. The Yankees (48-35) have won five of their last eight games, thanks largely to strong pitching and bullpen management.
However, they need more consistent production throughout the lineup. American League contenders like Texas, Baltimore, and Cleveland currently lead New York in team OPS and run differential.
The Yankees enter a challenging road trip with renewed confidence after Sunday’s offensive explosion. Their star players delivered when needed most. Whether the supporting cast can contribute consistently will determine if this represents a genuine turnaround or just a brief respite from ongoing struggles.
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