The Cincinnati Reds’ three-game sweep of the New York Yankees on Thursday marked a significant setback for the Yankees. It was the first time this season that the Reds had swept the Yankees in a series, and it came at a time when the Yankees were already struggling. Despite leading 8-4 by the ninth inning, the Yankees were unable to mount a comeback, and a costly error by Trent Grisham in the outfield added to their frustration.
The Reds have been playing well all season, but this series marked a turning point for them. Starting pitcher Marcus Stroman struggled in game one, allowing three home runs and five earned runs in five innings of work. However, it wasn’t just Stroman’s performance that hurt the Yankees – their offense has been struggling lately. They have lost 13 of their last 17 games, falling from first place in the AL East to 2 games back. Even Aaron Judge, who has been hitting like an MVP, went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in game one.
The team will need to find a way to turn things around if they want to avoid falling further behind in the division standings. Their upcoming home series against the Boston Red Sox followed by a crucial road trip against the Baltimore Orioles before the All-Star break will be critical for them. The team’s offensive struggles have drawn criticism from many sources including Judge’s hitting coach Richard Schenck who called it “terrible.” If they can fix their offensive issues and get back on track, they may still have a chance to win the division title this season.
