During the fifth inning of Saturday’s 12-6 loss to the New York Mets, New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge was struck near the right eye by a throw from teammate Anthony Volpe. The incident occurred between innings and left Judge bleeding from the face as he came off the field.
- Aaron Judge was hit near the eye by an unexpected throw from Anthony Volpe, causing a visible cut and broken sunglasses during a tough loss to the Mets.
- The Yankees have now lost six straight games, their second such streak of the season — a first since the year 2000.
- Anthony Volpe continues to struggle at the plate, with a prolonged slump and emotional frustration, though he did manage to hit a solo home run in Saturday’s game.
Throw During Routine Play Hits Judge in the Face
The play occurred after Mark Vientos lined out to Oswald Peraza, ending the bottom of the fifth inning. As the Yankees jogged toward the dugout, Anthony Volpe, positioned past third base and in foul territory, launched a throw in Judge’s direction. Judge was running in from right field and was not looking when the ball hit him on the side of the face, breaking his sunglasses.
Judge was photographed bleeding from the right side of his face and picking up the shattered pieces of his sunglasses. He returned to the field in the next inning with a small bandage near his eye. Judge said after the game that he was fine, though he did not know whether it was the ball, the glasses, or both that caused the cut.
Manager Aaron Boone said his first reaction was confusion.
“Yeah, I mean, confusion. I didn’t know what happened initially,” Boone said. “I just saw kind of a, what felt like something happened. So yeah, of course I was concerned. Had a little cut. In the end, I don’t think it’s anything too serious, obviously. But yeah, initially, obviously very concerned.”
When asked whether he felt helpless watching the ball head toward Judge, Volpe responded, “Obviously.”
During the incident, Jazz Chisholm Jr., standing next to Volpe, was seen with his hands on his head in reaction to what had happened.
Betting Odds Shift Following Yankees’ Sixth Straight Loss
The Yankees’ loss on Saturday was their sixth consecutive defeat, matching their previous six-game losing streak from June 13–18. It is the first time since 2000 that the Yankees have experienced two separate six-game losing streaks in a single season.
Following the game, the Yankees’ American League East division odds moved from +210 to +340, according to major online sportsbooks. The change came as a result of the team’s ongoing struggles and increased distance from the division-leading Baltimore Orioles.
Public betting percentages also shifted during the Subway Series. Earlier in the week, 65% of wagers had backed the Yankees to win the series. After back-to-back losses, that figure dropped to 43% ahead of Sunday’s game. The team’s World Series odds were also updated from +900 to +1200 following Saturday’s result.
Volpe Hits Home Run After Incident, But Mets Pull Away
Later in the game, Anthony Volpe hit a solo home run in the top of the seventh inning off Richard Lovelady, cutting the Mets’ lead to two runs. It was his 10th home run of the season and his first since June 21.
However, the Mets responded by scoring four runs in the bottom of the seventh, extending their lead. In the top of the eighth, Volpe batted with two runners on and two outs, but struck out against Ryne Stanek, ending the scoring opportunity.
Volpe entered the Subway Series in a prolonged slump. Over his last 12 games, he had gone 6-for-44, with six walks and 12 strikeouts. On Friday, July 4, he was replaced by Trent Grisham as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning of a one-run game, which the Yankees lost.
After that game, Volpe addressed the situation, acknowledging his desire to contribute but recognizing the decision was beyond his control. He explained that his focus remained on preparation and each opportunity depended on continuing to put in the necessary work.
Boone and Judge Address Team’s Performance
Manager Aaron Boone said the team was going through a difficult stretch. “It’s been a terrible week,” Boone said.
Judge commented on the team’s fundamentals and overall play. He said they simply need to play better and execute routine plays consistently. He touched on the fact small mistakes have compounded and contributed to the team’s slide, but viewed the slump as a challenge that even strong teams encounter during a season. Judge expressed confidence in the team’s ability to identify the issues, make necessary adjustments, and get back on track.
