In a game against the Rays, the New York Yankees saw two players hit home runs after enduring lengthy droughts. DJ LeMahieu hit his first home run of the season in his 40th game, breaking a 57-game homerless streak, while Anthony Volpe hit his first home run in over two months. LeMahieu’s home run came after a tough slump where he went 0-for-18 and was batting just .176. Volpe, who had hit six home runs in his first 44 games, went back-to-back with Austin Wells in the second inning to break his drought.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone noted that he was pleased with Volpe’s recent performance, as he had been struggling before the All-Star break. Volpe had been hitting just .171 with a .433 OPS in his last 35 games but has shown improvement after the break. Boone emphasized the importance of Volpe having quality at-bats and expressed hope that he would continue to build on his recent success. Volpe’s ability to spray the ball to all fields and have more tough at-bats was highlighted as key to his success moving forward.
Oswaldo Cabrera, a utilityman for the Yankees, has been delivering strong performances despite inconsistent playing time. Starting at second base for Gleyber Torres, Cabrera went 2-for-4 with a two-run single in a recent game and has hit safely in his last six starts. Cabrera’s contributions have been valuable to the team, and he expressed satisfaction with his performance when the team wins. Additionally, Alex Verdugo snapped a 0-for-20 skid with a single up the middle in the sixth inning.
In injury updates, Yankees reliever Nick Burdi, who has been out since May 24 due to right hip inflammation, faced live hitters at the team’s complex in Tampa and is set to do so again this week. If all goes well, he could begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Jon Berti, who received a PRP injection for a right calf strain setback, was still experiencing some slow movement during his recovery process. Boone acknowledged that calf injuries can be tricky and expressed a desire to get Berti back on the field as soon as possible.
Overall, the Yankees had a successful game against the Rays, with key players breaking home run droughts and delivering strong performances. LeMahieu and Volpe’s home runs provided a much-needed boost to the team’s offense, while Cabrera’s consistency in his limited playing time was praised. The team is hopeful for the continued success of these players as they work towards a strong second half of the season. Injury updates on Burdi and Berti indicate progress in their respective recoveries, with the team looking forward to having them back on the field in the near future.
