NEW YORK — Just when it seemed that Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees were poised to make a significant comeback in the World Series, they inadvertently surrendered any chance for victory.
A disastrous series of defensive blunders, starting with Judge’s critical misplay in center field, allowed the Los Angeles Dodgers to rally and score five runs in a pivotal fifth inning, leveling the game at 5-5. Young shortstop Anthony Volpe and star pitcher Gerrit Cole also contributed to the Yankees’ downfall through their own errors. The New York bullpen failed to protect a one-run advantage in the eighth inning, leading to a 7-6 defeat for the Yankees on Wednesday night in Game 5, thereby sealing the Dodgers’ eighth championship title, and their second in just five years.
Returning to the World Series for the first time since 2009, the Yankees’ stint was disappointingly brief. This marks yet another autumn disappointment for one of baseball’s most historically successful franchises, a team that used to dominate in October.
However, those days seem long gone. For the Yankees, a 15-year gap between championships feels excessive. With the offseason on the horizon, the Yankees face uncertainty, particularly concerning the future of free agent slugger Juan Soto, who is expected to attract considerable attention from several teams and may demand a significant contract.
After dropping the initial three games of the series against Los Angeles, the Yankees staved off a sweep with a convincing 11-4 victory in Game 4, largely thanks to Volpe’s performance. They now sought to become the first team in the storied history of the World Series to overcome a 3-0 deficit and push for a Game 6, which would have been hosted at Dodger Stadium.
The Yankees made an electric start in Game 5, featuring back-to-back home runs from Judge and Jazz Chisholm Jr. in the first inning. Giancarlo Stanton added to their success by hitting a home run to begin the third inning, establishing a comfortable 5-0 lead for New York.
Cole was sailing through four innings, not allowing any hits and managing a leadoff walk in the fourth with a stunning catch from Judge, who collided hard with the left-center field fence.
Yet, as it turned out, that positive momentum quickly dissipated.
