🖤 Aaron Judge Is Hurt. The Yankees Won Anyway.

Aaron Judge is hurt. The Yankees won anyway. 🖤⚾🔥

June 4 — Yankees 2, Guardians 1. Yankee Stadium.

With Judge potentially facing thoracic outlet syndrome, Max Schuemann got the start in right field — his first career start there. He made TWO highlight-reel plays. A diving catch on Kwan's sinking liner in the 2nd. A leaping catch on Rocchio at the fence in the 7th. The backup who nobody knew became the defensive hero of the night.

The Pitching Duel

On the mound Carlos Rodón was exceptional. 6 innings, 7 strikeouts, 2 hits, 1 run. Cleveland's Slade Cecconi matched him pitch for pitch — 6 innings, 4 hits, 1 run. Two pitchers. One run each. A masterclass in big-game pitching.

Nobody was scoring. Both starters were dealing. It looked like it might stay 1-1 all night.

The 7th Inning Changed Everything

Codi Heuer replaced Cecconi and walked Chisholm. A stolen base. A wild pitch. McMahon grounds through the right side. 2-1 Yankees. That's all they needed.

The sequence was clinical: walk, steal, wild pitch, ground ball through the right side. Three minutes of baseball that decided a chess match between two of the best teams in the AL.

The Bronx Doesn't Flinch

Yankees playoff odds: 93.7%. Guardians playoff odds: 84.8%. Two of the best teams in the AL just played a chess match. Judge isn't even playing.

And the Yankees found a way.

That's what makes this team dangerous. That's what makes this team different. That's why the Bronx doesn't flinch. 👀