BOSTON — The past two nights have been particularly frustrating for the Yankees, who now hold a 1–4 record against the Red Sox in 2025. After scoring seven runs in the first two innings of the series opener last Friday at Yankee Stadium, the Yankees have since been outscored 33–20. One bright spot has been reliever Yerry De Los Santos, who has not allowed a run in six innings pitched against the Red Sox over the past two weeks — making him the only Yankee pitcher to do so during that span.
The past two weeks have highlighted several issues the Yankees must address — not only at the trade deadline but also within the clubhouse — relating to both team dynamics and on-field performance.
Pitching/Hitting Inconsistencies:
Last weekend, the primary concern appeared to be the Yankees’ pitching staff — specifically the bullpen. However, that does not seem to be the issue this weekend. Over the course of the two games, the Yankees have allowed a total of six runs, only four of which were earned. One run resulted from the automatic runner in extra innings, while another scored on a defensive error by shortstop Anthony Volpe.
The Yankees’ bullpen depth continues to be a concern. As previously mentioned, Yerry De Los Santos played a crucial role in Saturday’s game by preserving the bullpen. With Carlos Rodón limited to five innings, De Los Santos was the only reliever needed to finish the game, effectively saving the Yankees’ high-leverage arms for Sunday. Notably, the Yankees did not have key relievers like Devin Williams or Mark Leiter Jr. available for either game, which limited their ability to make impactful contributions in late-game situations.
This weekend, the issue has been the offense. Across the two games, the Yankees have managed only three extra-base hits — two doubles and a home run by Aaron Judge. There was also a potential double down the line that did not materialize due to a failed replay review, though.
Fundamentally Unsound:
Another issue has been the Yankees’ lack of fundamentals across the board in recent games. While the team had been playing more well-rounded baseball prior to this stretch, the last five games suggest they have forgotten some of the basics.
Anthony Volpe has been one of the few consistent offensive contributors for the Yankees over the past two games, recording three hits and a walk. However, he committed a costly error early in Saturday night’s game that put the Yankees in a first-inning deficit.
Paul Goldschmidt was asked postgame about the sequence in the first inning, as he was on the receiving end of the errant throw, and told the media, “That was my fault. I tried to come off the bag and knock it down… He should have the freedom to throw that ball across the diamond like he did.”
Two of the three outfielders had a negative impact on the game due to their defensive alignment. Outfield positioning has been a recurring concern dating back to the postseason, when Dodgers scouts noted it was easy to run on Yankees outfielders because of how they were positioned. That issue resurfaced in tonight’s game. Both Trent Grisham and Jasson Domínguez made errant throws into the infield, allowing the Red Sox to take extra bases — and in one instance — score a run as a direct result.
There was also a bizarre play in the seventh inning with two outs and two runners on. Trent Grisham swung and missed at strike two, but Jasson Domínguez, the runner on second base, mistakenly believed it was strike three and took off for third. He was thrown out to end the inning. This was a costly mistake, especially with Grisham facing a 2–2 count and Aaron Judge on deck. When asked about the play after the game, Domínguez stated, “For some reason, I thought [Trent] had two strikes. But I have nothing to say, no excuses. I made a mistake.”
While it may only be a game in June, it is often the small mistakes that end up costing teams in postseason games and series, as the Yankees experienced this past October. Attention to detail begins with proper coaching and consistent emphasis from the manager and coaching staff on the importance of playing the game the right way. The Yankees have repeatedly made these kinds of errors, and those mistakes have consistently proven costly.
The Yankees will send out their stopper, and ace, Max Fried on Sunday afternoon looking to snap this four game skid against the Red Sox, and a two game skid overall.