Yankees allow two first-inning runs in the series finale on Sunday.
The New York Yankees closed out their series with the Chicago Cubs on the losing side of a 2-1 game
Here’s how the Yankees played on Sunday:
1. Two early Cubs runs were the difference maker in the loss.
The Cubs got started early on Sunday afternoon as Ian Happ led things off with a double in the bottom of the first inning. Gerrit Cole then got the next two outs before an error and walk-loaded the bases. Isaac Paredes singled in two runs before the inning came to a close, giving the Cubs an early lead. Cole and the Yankees bullpen held the team to one more hit the entire game, but the Bronx Bombers failed to produce offensively to put themselves ahead.
2. Juan Soto and Aaron Judge continue to slump.
The two biggest bats in the Yankees’ lineup combined to 1-7 in Sunday’s loss. Judge and Soto combined to go 2-19 in the series as the team scored seven runs over the three games. The captain is 5-34 over his last nine games and has failed to hit a home run since August 25. Soto has one homer and three RBIs over his last 12 games. The duo will need to improve offensively if the team wants to succeed down the stretch.
3. The Yankees offense failed to get going.
The rest of the Bronx Bombers’ offense failed to produce in the loss as well. The lineup had six hits in the loss. The only Yankees run of the game was scored via a second-inning sacrifice fly. The team went 1-8 with runners in scoring position and only had one multi-hit inning. The Yankees walked away from Wrigley Field with two wins but many questions on offense that need answering.
