Judge, scuffling Yankees focus on where they can go rather than the rut they’re in

AP Sports Writer

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Aaron Judge hasn’t homered in nine straight games for the first time this season, and the New York Yankees are under .500 over the equivalent of half a season.

Never mind that Judge leads the major leagues with 51 home runs or the Yankees are just a half-game behind Baltimore for the AL East lead and the AL’s best record.

“Nobody’s going to feel sorry for us,” manager Aaron Boone said. “I’m sure a lot of people out there are rooting against us. We’ve got to have that us-against-the-world, go take this thing, go take this position, go take this playoff opportunity. It’s all there for us. We’ve got to do it.”

In a 10-6 loss at the Texas Rangers on Wednesday night that gave the Yankees their third consecutive series loss, New York was within inches of cutting a ninth-inning deficit from eight runs to one.

Wyatt Langford made a leaping, game-ending catch at the top of wall in left field on a 104 mph liner from Giancarlo Stanton with two runners on after Trent Grisham’s two-out grand slam. This was a night after the Texas rookie’s game-ending slam in a 7-4 Rangers victory.

Judge and Juan Soto had left the game in the eighth inning because of the 10-2 deficit, so Judge was already assured of his ninth consecutive game without going deep — he had a pair of eight-game stretches earlier this season.

“Just don’t think about it, try not to hear those kinds of things,” said Judge, who was 6 of 34 with two doubles over the three series losses. “I think I heard it early in the year, too, but there’s nothing I can do about that. I’m not trying to hit homers.”

The Yankees are currently without a specific closer after two-time All-Star Clay Holmes gave up Langford’s drive with New York on the cusp of a series victory in the middle game against the Rangers — Holmes’ big league-high 11th blown save.

Boone says there are several options, including Holmes, for the next save opportunity in what he called a short-term situation. Those answers won’t come until Friday at the earliest, at the Chicago Cubs.

Marcus Stroman was 3-0 over his prior four starts before giving up nine hits in 3 2/3 innings in the series finale against the Rangers, who were without the top two hitters in their order: Marcus Semien and reigning World Series MVP Corey Seager.

“I think we’re all very process-oriented in this clubhouse so we know what we’re capable of,” Stroman said. “A few bad losses doesn’t move the room in a bad way at all, so just a matter of doing what we’re capable of and going out there and getting momentum and hopefully taking it to Chicago.”

New York’s 40-41 record goes back to June 1, when it started that day 40-19. Even back then, though, the Yankees were only two games ahead of the Orioles.

AL Central-leading Cleveland (80-60) is also in the mix for the AL’s best record, tied with New York and a half-game behind Baltimore (81-60).

“We are right there with every opportunity to reach our hopes and dreams. And that’s because of the season we’ve had as a whole,” Boone said. “We’ve put ourselves in position to go grab this thing. But if we want to go grab it, we’ve got to play our best ball and put our best foot forward with 22 to go.”

There were several unsightly moments for the Yankees in the series finale against the Rangers, the defending World Series champions who are essentially out of playoff contention this year.

Second baseman Gleyber Torres didn’t realize a speedy Langford might try to turn an RBI hit from a single into a double and nonchalantly handled the cutoff throw while Langford sprinted to second base behind him. Langford scored on a single right after that.

Reliever Tim Mayza allowed three consecutive baserunners in the sixth, and Mark Leiter Jr. gave up a double before a wild pitch that capped a three-running inning for an 8-2 Texas lead.

New York needs two victories to clinch a 32nd consecutive winning season. Judge isn’t rattled by the mediocre play of late.

“We’ve still got a long month ahead of us, big series coming up here in Chicago,” Judge said. “That’s all you can really do is look forward. You can’t sit and look back at past games ’cause those will just keep building. So it’s just about moving forward and get ready for this next series.”

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