Yankees fans hoped the dominant sweep of the Athletics might provide some momentum to get the Yankees’ bats banging again. Last night, though, the Yankees went right back to being mired in a slump at the plate. Aaron Judge wore a hat trick last night, but everyone not named Jake Bauers looked equally hapless until the ninth. A garbage time two-run single by Gleyber Torres broke up the shutout.
The Rays’ bats didn’t cut it in 2022, but it was clear the bones of a division winner were in there. The reality now is that all the light-hitting prospects who the Rays brought up are now hitting at a torrid pace.