Aaron Boone Comments on Yankees’ Offensive Struggles During Four-Game Skid
The New York Yankees’ offensive woes continued on Monday night as they were shut out for the second straight game, falling 1-0 in 11 innings to the Los Angeles Angels. It marked their fourth consecutive loss, following a weekend sweep by the Boston Red Sox. Over the last five games, the Yankees have managed just five total runs.
After the game, manager Aaron Boone addressed the team’s scoring issues. He pointed to a combination of factors contributing to the slump, including the inability to come through with key hits.
“A little bit of everything,” Boone said. “When you’re not scoring, they’re keeping us in the ballpark. We hit a few balls hard—Cody Bellinger had a couple close ones to right, and Paul Goldschmidt hit one well to left-center. We were making good contact, but not getting results. We’re not hitting home runs, and we’re not capitalizing when opportunities come up late in games.”
During the current skid, the team is just 1-for-18 with runners in scoring position and has stranded 12 runners. Their last run came on a Saturday groundout by Anthony Volpe in the ninth inning of a 4-3 loss.
Boone also gave credit to Angels starter Jose Soriano, who held the Yankees to six hits over seven scoreless innings, using what Boone described as a “bowling ball sinker.” Still, Boone emphasized the importance of executing in key moments, especially when the long ball isn’t there to bail them out.
The Yankees had a chance to break through in the 11th inning with the bases loaded, but Volpe grounded into a force out at third base on the first pitch from reliever Hunter Strickland, ending the game. Boone defended Volpe’s decision to swing early, noting that sometimes the first pitch is the best one to hit.
“Not necessarily a bad move,” Boone said. “The first pitch can be the one to go after. I didn’t get a look at whether it was off the plate, but we have to be ready in those spots.”
The Yankees are now 42-29 on the season and lead the AL East by just 2.5 games over the surging Tampa Bay Rays, who have won 19 of their last 25. New York will try to snap the skid Tuesday, with Will Warren set to start against the Angels.
