Yankees’ Scoreless Streak Snapped by Chisholm’s Homer, but Late Error Hands Angels a 3-2 Win

NEW YORK — Jazz Chisholm Jr. finally broke the New York Yankees’ 30-inning scoring drought with a second-inning solo homer on Wednesday night. But the Bronx Bombers’ relief was short-lived as a costly late-game error allowed the Los Angeles Angels to edge out a 3-2 victory at Yankee Stadium, handing the Yankees their sixth consecutive loss.

The turning point came in the top of the eighth. Tied at 2-2, Angels sluggers Mike Trout and Taylor Ward led off the inning with walks against reliever Fernando Cruz (1-3). Luis Rengifo followed with another walk, loading the bases. Then, Jo Adell sent a scorching 105.9 mph grounder to shortstop Anthony Volpe. What could have been an inning-ending double play turned into a nightmare for the Yankees when Volpe bobbled the ball and then threw wide of second base. Trout crossed the plate to put Los Angeles ahead for good.

The Yankees, now losers of eight of their last 18 games, are in the midst of their longest losing streak since August 2023, when they dropped nine straight. Once among the hottest teams in baseball earlier this season, New York’s recent struggles have raised alarms as they stumble through June.

Chisholm’s homer in the second inning was a small bright spot for the Yankees. His drive down the right-field line stayed just inside the foul pole, tying the game at 1-1 and finally ending the Yankees’ longest scoreless streak since 2016. That drought, a 33-inning stretch in September of that year, had stood as one of the franchise’s worst offensive dry spells in recent memory.

The Yankees briefly held the lead in the fourth inning, when Cody Bellinger launched a solo home run to make it 2-1. But the lead was short-lived. In the very next inning, Adell struck again — this time with a solo shot off Ryan Yarbrough on the first pitch of the fifth, leveling the game at 2-2.

The eighth inning proved to be the undoing for New York. After Adell’s hard-hit ball led to the decisive error, the Yankees failed to mount a comeback in the bottom of the frame. Bellinger had a chance to play hero again but fouled out with two runners on base to end the inning.

Aaron Judge, who has been the Yankees’ most consistent hitter this season, struggled at the plate on Wednesday. He went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts, and his average dropped slightly to .366. Giancarlo Stanton pinch-hit in the seventh but flied out to left field, continuing his recent slump.

Meanwhile, the Angels’ win marked their fifth straight at Yankee Stadium — spanning both the old and new versions — a feat the franchise had never accomplished before. The victory also extended their current winning streak to six games, giving them momentum as they look to climb the AL standings.

Nolan Schanuel got the scoring started early for the Angels, homering just three pitches into the game to give Los Angeles a 1-0 lead. That quick strike set the tone for the night, as the Angels capitalized on their opportunities and forced the Yankees into mistakes.

Rookie right-hander Jack Kochanowicz gave the Angels a strong outing, allowing just two runs on two hits across 5 2/3 innings. He recorded a career-high eight strikeouts while issuing three walks — an encouraging performance for the young pitcher in one of baseball’s most hostile environments.

In the ninth, veteran closer Kenley Jansen came on to shut the door. He struck out Volpe to end the game and notch his 15th save of the season, preserving the win and adding to the Yankees’ misery.

There was a moment of controversy in the sixth inning when Bellinger hit an infield single. On the play, baserunner Trent Grisham was ruled out at second after his leg inadvertently touched the batted ball — a judgment call that snuffed out a potential rally. Paul Goldschmidt followed by lining out on the next pitch, ending the inning.

With this latest loss, the Yankees find themselves in a troubling slide. Though they remain in playoff contention, the team’s inability to execute in clutch moments — combined with mounting defensive miscues and cold bats — has sparked concern among fans and analysts alike.

The Angels, meanwhile, are showing signs of life despite a season marred by injuries and inconsistency. Behind contributions from veterans like Trout and emerging talents like Adell, they’ve found a groove — and at least for now, they’re capitalizing on opponents’ mistakes and finding ways to win.

As the Yankees try to regroup, they’ll need more than just a few home runs to turn their fortunes around. Wednesday’s game showed that while the power is there, the fundamentals — clean defense, plate discipline, and timely hitting — are what separate winning streaks from losing streaks.

For now, the Bronx faithful will have to wait and hope that this latest low point is not a sign of more trouble to come.