Errors, horrors, and boos define Yankees’ Bronx night on July 4

The pride of July 4 was absent from the Bronx on Thursday. The New York Yankees endured an 8-4 loss to the Cincinnati Reds, culminating in their first series sweep in 2024.

Signs were ominous at Yankee Stadium from the very onset. Early tension arose when Yankees manager Aaron Boone pulled his players from a national anthem standoff with the Reds. Marcus Stroman failed to keep his performance steady, stumbled with mistakes, and allowed three home runs. The New York bats fell silent before an ex-Yankee starting on the mound for the Reds.

The lowest point occurred in the ninth inning. To the ultimate horror of the Yankees fans, center fielder Trent Grisham‘s lax handling of a single allowed Jeimer Candelario to advance to second base. This prompted loud boos from the crowd of 43,154.

These incidents encapsulated the Yankees’ ongoing struggles, as the team has been on a losing streak since their series against the Atlanta Braves in June. The loss and sweep by the under-.500 Reds further underscored the Yankees’ current challenges, deepening fans’ discontent with the team’s performance.

The New York Yankees’ difficulties persisted as they suffered their third consecutive loss to the Cincinnati Reds, completing a sweep and extending their recent skid. Now sitting at 54-35, the Bombers have dropped 13 of their last 17 games and have not secured a series win since mid-June against Kansas City.

Yankees fail as Reds dominate the game

The game showcased the Yankees’ struggles across the board. Marcus Stroman surrendered three home runs over five innings, while relievers Tim Hill and Jake Cousins gave up three additional runs in the seventh. Their offense remained quiet until the fifth inning, unable to break through against former Yankee Frankie Montas.

From the very beginning, Cincinnati wasted no time, with Nick Martini and Jonathan India launching solo home runs off Yankees starter Marcus Stroman. Spencer Steer added a three-run homer in the fifth inning, pushing the Reds’ lead to 5-0.

Starting pitcher Marcus Stroman’s subpar performance marked the ninth straight game where a Yankees starter failed to pitch six innings, further taxing an already stretched and injury-riddled bullpen.

The Yankees made a spirited comeback attempt with home runs from Austin Wells and Ben Rice, who hit his first homer, followed by a solo shot from Juan Soto in the seventh. However, these efforts fell short, leaving the team unable to bridge the gap.

Former Yankee Frankie Montas stymied his old team, keeping them hitless until the fourth inning and compounding New York’s frustrations. The Yankees’ failure to generate offense against a sub-.500 Reds team, managing only 10 runs across the three-game series, highlights their ongoing challenges at the plate.

The game’s final moments added to the fans’ frustration as outfielder Trent Grisham misplayed a routine hit by Jeimer Candelario in the ninth inning. Grisham’s slow reaction and fumble allowed Candelario to advance to second base, prompting loud boos from the crowd.

The bullpen’s performance added to the Yankees’ woes. In the seventh inning, relievers Tim Hill and Jake Cousins allowed the Reds to load the bases, resulting in Jake Fraley’s bases-clearing triple.

Manager Aaron Boone conceded the team’s poor performance and stressed the need for improvement in all facets of the game. This loss highlighted the Yankees’ ongoing struggles and left fans visibly unhappy on what was supposed to be a celebratory holiday occasion.

He highlighted the team’s tendency to allow crucial home runs, with the Yankees giving up seven to the Reds over the series. Stroman, whose ERA has climbed from 2.82 to 3.58 in his last four starts, remained optimistic that the team’s struggles would be short-lived.

But the Yankees’ issues are manifold. Although there were glimpses of offensive resurgence, consistency remains elusive, especially in the leadoff, cleanup, and lower-order positions. Despite strong performances from Juan Soto and Aaron Judge, the overall offensive output has been lacking.

This loss clearly exposed the Yankees’ ongoing pitching and offensive issues, raising concerns about their ability to regain their early-season form. It sealed a three-game sweep by the Reds, marking the team’s first sweep in a three-game series this year and their inaugural home sweep in a three-game interleague series.

What do you think? Leave your comment below.