Yankees pull Judge vs. Twins due to leg tightness — SkimNews
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- Aaron Judge was pulled for pinch hitter Heliot Ramos in the sixth inning of Wednesday's 5-4 extra-inning loss to the Twins because of tightness in his lower right leg.
- Judge said he first felt the tightness while playing the field in the opening inning but opted to play it safe rather than push through it, declining to specify the injury or pinpoint what triggered it.
- Judge struck out in both at-bats against Twins starter Zebby Matthews before being removed and is now 4-for-26 with 13 strikeouts and just one extra-base hit in seven games since returning from a lengthy absence with a broken rib.
- The Yankees clinched a postseason spot Monday when Judge homered in the series opener, but Wednesday's loss dropped them four games behind AL East-leading Tampa Bay, with a four-game showdown against the Rays beginning Tuesday.
- Manager Aaron Boone called Judge "a key figure to what we do" and expressed hope the issue could be treated quickly; the team has an off day Thursday before opening a road series in Arizona on Friday.
Why it matters: The Yankees trail Tampa Bay by four games in the AL East with a critical four-game series against the Rays beginning Tuesday, and any extended absence for Judge — a three-time AL MVP batting .154 with 13 strikeouts in seven games since returning from a broken rib — would hit New York's offense precisely when it can least afford to lose ground to the division leader.
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