Throughout the season, the New York Yankees often relied on sheer talent to overcome frequent lapses in basic baseball fundamentals. Despite glaring issues with baserunning and defense, they finished the regular season with 94 wins and the American League Championship title.
Their success was heavily reliant on star players, such as Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, who powered their offense, and Gerrit Cole, who led a strong rotation. As the playoffs approached, they even discovered a reliable bullpen formula. However, this approach only worked up to a point; when they faced the fundamentally sound Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series, their shortcomings became apparent.
In Game 5 of the World Series, the Yankees’ flaws caught up with them. A disastrous fifth inning, marked by defensive errors, led to a 7-6 loss to the Dodgers at Yankee Stadium, ending the Yankees’ hopes of a historic comeback from a 3-0 series deficit. Gerrit Cole, the starting pitcher, had initially kept the Dodgers at bay with four hitless innings, but everything unraveled quickly after a series of defensive misplays, starting with an error by Judge, who missed a routine catch.
The mistakes continued when Anthony Volpe, a skilled shortstop, mishandled a throw to third, loading the bases with no outs. Cole showed resilience, striking out two key batters, including Shohei Ohtani, which seemed to keep a potential disaster in check. Yet, another miscommunication followed this time between Cole and first baseman Anthony Rizzo, allowing Mookie Betts to reach first base. This series of miscues handed the Dodgers their first run and set the tone for the inning.
The Dodgers capitalized immediately, with Freddie Freeman driving in two runs and Teoscar Hernandez doubling to tie the game. These miscues shifted the game’s momentum in favor of the Dodgers, as the Yankees’ costly errors erased their early 2-0 lead. Judge noted that teams like the Dodgers excel when given extra opportunities, which they took advantage of throughout the inning, amplifying the Yankees’ blunders.
Cole ultimately finished his outing after pitching into the seventh inning, maintaining a slim one-run lead. But the emotional toll of the fifth inning had already altered the game’s course. Yankees manager Aaron Boone acknowledged that such errors against a skilled team like the Dodgers would inevitably lead to punishment. Despite a brief regained lead due to Giancarlo Stanton’s sacrifice fly, the Dodgers maintained their aggressive play.
Tommy Kahnle, who came in to pitch the eighth, quickly lost control, allowing the Dodgers to load the bases once more. His struggles led to a change, with closer Luke Weaver taking over, only for more defensive issues to arise. Weaver allowed a sacrifice fly to tie the game again and, after a catcher’s interference call, another sacrifice fly from Betts gave the Dodgers a lead they would not relinquish.
In the ninth inning, the Yankees’ defensive woes continued, culminating in a balk from Weaver, which, while not affecting the score, underscored the mental lapses that plagued the team. These miscues were emblematic of the Yankees’ larger struggle to stay composed under pressure, something the Dodgers exploited to full advantage.
Reflecting on the defeat, Aaron Judge and other players shared the emotional impact of the loss. They acknowledged that while their talent carried them far, it wasn’t enough against a fundamentally sound team like the Dodgers. This game marked the end of a promising yet flawed season for the Yankees, revealing that despite their $300 million payroll, talent alone could not compensate for their inconsistent fundamentals. The Dodgers’ superior execution highlighted the Yankees’ need for a more balanced approach if they hope to contend at this level again.
