NEW YORK — The lights at Yankee Stadium are still bright, but the fans are now in an agonizing silence. After missing a chance in a “bases loaded – no out” situation, captain Aaron Judge officially spoke up: “I have to take responsibility. I let the team and the fans down.” But in that disappointment, there is still a challenge and belief: “If anyone thinks the Yankees are done, they don’t know us.”
Game 1 of the ALDS between the Yankees and Blue Jays ended with a brutal result: Toronto won 10–1, completely defeating the home team and putting the Yankees in a difficult position from the start. More remarkably, in the sixth inning, when Anthony Volpe, Austin Wells, and Trent Grisham had the team on the verge of breaking out—Judge, center fielder, surrendered a strikeout at 3-2, in a game that was full of hope for New York.
“Took some tough pitches, but in the end I didn’t get the job done. That’s what it comes down to,” Judge said ruefully. “We had an opportunity… no outs, bases loaded… couldn’t really get anything after that.”
Still, he didn’t let his confidence falter: “I like our chances. We’ve got to keep getting those… opportunities and… we’re going to come through when we need to.”
Judge’s words were a powerful punch—conceding defeat but not bowing—to anyone who underestimated the Yankees right now.
The game had no shortage of high-stakes moments for the Blue Jays. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit his first homer of the postseason in the first inning, and Alejandro Kirk followed with a solo home run in the second inning – both off pitchers like Luis Gil, who only threw 2.2 innings.
Meanwhile, the Yankees’ bullpen continued to be shaky: from Luke Weaver to Fernando Cruz to Paul Blackburn, all let their opponents exploit it, making the game one-sided in Toronto’s favor.
Notably, the percentage of teams winning Game 1 when hosting at home in a five-game series is 74.1% – a statistic that puts a lot of pressure on New York, which has lost at home.
Now, all eyes are on Max Fried – the Yankees’ starting pitcher. He will be facing off against Trey Yesavage, a rookie on the Blue Jays side who has only made four MLB starts and has never faced the Yankees.
Meanwhile, the Yankees still have to seriously consider their bullpen – whether to continue trusting the names that have been disappointing or to restructure? This could be the key to their comeback win.
Judge sent a warning: The Yankees are not dead. They “will rise, they will fight.” But now is the time for action to speak — because words without victory can easily become wind.
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