Aaron Judge returns, Devin Williams struggles again as Yankees fall to Rangers, 2-0

Gary Phillips, New York Daily News on Aug 5, 2025

Published in Baseball

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Aaron Judge’s return to the Yankees’ lineup didn’t make much of a difference on Tuesday, not with Nathan Eovaldi at his very best and Devin Williams still in a funk.

Eovaldi, a former Yankee, spun a gem in Texas, allowing just one hit while walking none and striking out six over eight scoreless innings and 98 pitches. The performance set up a 2-0, series-winning victory for the Rangers, who took the lead in the eighth inning after Yankees manager Aaron Boone turned to Williams.

The struggling reliever blew a save in Monday’s series opener and has scuffled since the start of July, forcing Boone to consider alternatives for the closer’s role. Still, the manager brought Williams into a 0-0 game on Tuesday.

It didn’t take long for the score to change, as Adolis García roped a double off the glove of a leaping, turned-around Jasson Domínguez with one out. Williams then issued two straight walks to load the bases.

With the lefty-swinging Rowdy Tellez up next, Boone kept Williams in the game despite having David Bednar warming in the bullpen. Lefties have a .455 OPS against Bednar this season, but Boone stuck with Williams.

Tellez went on to rip a two-run single into center field. Williams’ ERA, meanwhile, inflated to 5.44.

Williams’ latest implosion spoiled an otherwise strong evening from the Yankees’ pitching staff. Will Warren led the effort, repeatedly working in and out of trouble throughout five scoreless innings.

Judge, meanwhile, went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts in his return from a right flexor strain. The rest of his teammates totaled just two hits as the Yankees lost their fifth straight game.

The Rangers, on the other hand, pulled within half a game of the Yankees in the American League wild-card race. The Yanks are in possession of the third and final spot.