Yankees Struggle Without Judge, Fall to Red Sox

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - On June 5, 2026, the New York Yankees faced off against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, marking their first game without star outfielder Aaron Judge, who has been sidelined due to a fractured rib. The absence of their captain was palpable as the Yankees stumbled to a 5-3 defeat.

Despite having eight hits, the Yankees' offense was less than impressive, managing only three runs. Former Yankee Sonny Gray, pitching for the Red Sox, effectively contained the Bombers, while Yankees starter Ryan Weathers struggled, allowing five runs on seven hits and walking one. The Yankees' performance raised concerns about their ability to cope without Judge for the next four to six weeks.

The game began positively for New York, with Ben Rice scoring in the first inning. However, the Red Sox quickly regained control, capitalizing on Weathers' mistakes, including a bases-loaded walk that allowed the tying run to score. A subsequent error by Weathers led to another run for Boston.

Weathers continued to struggle, surrendering two home runs, one by Andruw Monasterio in the fourth and another—a two-run shot by Willson Contreras—in the fifth. The Yankees managed to respond with an RBI double from Spencer Jones in the fourth and a solo homer from Trent Grisham in the fifth, but it wasn't enough to mount a serious comeback.

In the ninth inning, Aroldis Chapman, another former Yankee, provided a brief moment of tension as he walked two batters, putting the tying run at the plate. However, he ultimately regained his composure, escaping the inning without allowing any runs.

While Spencer Jones had a notable performance with two hits and Grisham's homer offered a slight silver lining, the overall display left much to be desired. The rivalry will continue tomorrow night, with the next game set to start at 7:35 PM ET, featuring Will Warren on the mound against Ranger Suarez.