The New York Yankees fell victim to the Rangers on the road, a team that isn’t really in the postseason hunt. The Yankees were ‘beaten’ by Joc Pederson, a player who hasn’t been performing well lately, but who managed to nullify the “strong comments” made by the Yankees’ announcers against him.
In the game against the Yankees, the Rangers were losing in the bottom of the ninth inning when Pederson stepped up to the plate against the Bombers’ closer, Devin Williams. Williams had recently made a painful comment to summarize the struggles his team is going through. It was at that moment that the announcers said Pederson’s physique had “evolved.”
Pederson, of course, didn’t hear those comments at the time he was at home plate. Instead, he seized the occasion to show off with a pinch-hit home run that tied the game and put the Yankees on the ropes. After the game, even manager Aaron Boone had to release a strong statement about the team’s situation.
Pederson’s Bad Season Average
The Yankees’ announcers weren’t wrong in their comments about Pederson’s batting average. This year, it sits at a low .132, with a very low production of just 12 runs and 19 hits through 54 games.
The Rangers‘ victory is a strong blow to the Yankees, who are now much further behind in the Wild Card race—their only realistic path to the playoffs. However, there is still a lot of the month left to fight.
The Yankees and Rangers will not play any more series in the regular season. The Rangers’ next series will be at home against the Phillies, a very strong team that is fighting to secure the best possible record heading into the playoffs.