Yankees heads expresses sadness after first series home defeat in the latest…

Teoscar Hernández smashed two home runs, including a grand slam, leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to an 11-3 victory over the New York Yankees in the Bronx on Saturday night. This decisive win, coupled with Friday’s close triumph, gives the Dodgers a 2-0 lead in the three-game series, possibly foreshadowing the 2024 Fall Classic. It marks the Yankees’ first home series defeat of the 2024 season.

Hernández’s grand slam in the eighth inning, a 424-foot blast off Tommy Kahnle, widened the Dodgers’ lead from 4-2 to 8-2. Despite being signed to a modest one-year, $23.5 million contract this past winter, the 31-year-old Hernández has emerged as a crucial contributor in the Dodgers’ star-studded lineup. Following his outstanding performance on Saturday, he now boasts a batting line of .262/.331/.500 with 15 home runs for the year.

In other news, Los Angeles starter Gavin Stone delivered a strong performance, striking out six batters and allowing two runs in 5 ⅔ innings. Freddie Freeman contributed with two doubles, while Enrique Hernández also added a home run to the Dodgers’ victory. With this win, the Dodgers improve to a 41-25 record for the season, maintaining a significant lead in the National League West division.

Meanwhile, despite the New York Yankees’ efforts, including two home runs by Aaron Judge, who now leads MLB with 23 homers and boasts a slash line of .298/.432/.685, they suffered their largest defeat of the season on Saturday. Notably, the absence of Juan Soto due to forearm inflammation has been felt by the Yankees. However, they are optimistic about his recovery, hoping to avoid placing him on the injured list.

The Yankees’ loss on Saturday also marked the first time in 2024 they allowed more than eight runs and their largest margin of defeat this season. As they approach Sunday’s series finale, they aim to prevent a sweep, focusing on capitalizing on baserunners. In the first two games of the series, they left 19 runners on base.

Despite the back-to-back losses, the Yankees maintain their stronghold on the first place in the American League East with a 45-21 record.