Yankees searching for answers after 3rd straight shutout

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Yankees' offense is drifting toward uncharted territory — and not in a good way.

The team tied a franchise record by getting shut out for the third straight game Tuesday night, when the Yankees went 0 for 10 with runners on base in a 4-0 loss to the Los Angeles Angels.

“Obviously, we’re not getting the job done,” outfielder Cody Bellinger said. “We’re not getting a lot of baserunners. We’re not causing traffic. We’ve got to keep going and wake up tomorrow and we’ve got to get going.”

The Yankees have been blanked in three consecutive games seven times in their 123-year history — but only three times in the last 50 years, most recently from Sept. 22-24, 2016.

The last major league team to get shut out in four straight games was the Kansas City Royals in September 2017.

“It’s a little bit foreign for us to go through this for a few days,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.

New York has lost five in a row and mustered only five runs in its past six games, including a 1-0 win last Thursday in Kansas City. The last time the Yankees scored five runs or fewer in a six-game span was August 1968.

In the past six games, New York is batting .164.

Giancarlo Stanton is 4 for 8 in his first two games since returning from injuries to both elbows. But lineup mainstays Bellinger (.152 in his last eight games), Paul Goldschmidt (.164 in his last 17 games) and Aaron Judge (.125 in his last seven games) are all mired in extended slumps.

Judge, who began the night leading the American League in all three Triple Crown categories, was booed following strikeouts in the sixth and eighth innings.

Boone tinkered with his lineup — batting rookie Jasson Domínguez first and dropping Goldschmidt to sixth — but it didn’t yield results for the Yankees, who were limited to four hits and got just three runners to second base against Kyle Hendricks and a trio of relievers.

Boone implored the Yankees to remain patient at the plate but acknowledged they might have been pressing Tuesday, when they went up against the soft-tossing Hendricks on an unseasonably cool 67-degree night.

“You want to be the guy (to) kind of get the hit, get it going,” Boone said. “But that’s where the patience comes in and that’s where just you can’t obsess on the result. You can’t go up there (like) ‘I gotta get a hit, I gotta do this.’ It’s got to be, ‘I gotta go take a tough at-bat.’”

Even with the slump, the Yankees still rank among the top five teams in the majors in runs (370), homers (109) and OPS (.784). They finished among the top five in all three categories in five of Boone’s first seven seasons as manager.

“It’s been a little struggle the last couple days, which unfortunately is going to happen,” Boone said. “It’s just always shocking to see our group not score runs, right? Especially a few days in a row now.

“We’ve just got to focus on the little things — think small, big things come.”

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Los Angeles Angels' Kyle Hendricks pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Tuesday, June 17, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge bats during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Tuesday, June 17, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

New York Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton walks to the dugout after flying out to Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto during the ninth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, June 17, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge is struck out by Los Angeles Angels pitcher Kyle Hendricks during the sixth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, June 17, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge walks to the dugout after striking out during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Tuesday, June 17, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

The first stage of Mohamed Salah’s rehabilitation at Liverpool is complete after the Egypt forward returned to the team for its 2-0 win over Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday.

The question now as Salah heads off to the Africa Cup of Nations: Is there a future for him at Anfield when he comes back?

Salah, who let rip last weekend about his current frustrations at Liverpool, entered as a 26th-minute substitute to a big ovation and set up the second of Hugo Ekitike’s goals as the defending champion extended its unbeaten run to five games in all competitions.

Also Saturday, Chelsea beat Everton 2-0 and was set on its way to victory by Cole Palmer’s first goal in three months. First-place Arsenal hosts last-place Wolverhampton later.

Salah held talks with Liverpool manager Arne Slot on Friday in an effort to overcome their issues and the result was that Salah was recalled to the matchday squad for the Brighton game. He had been a substitute for the last three Premier League matches before being left at home for the midweek Champions League trip to Inter Milan as a punishment for his explosive comments to reporters last weekend.

“It was an easy decision to put him in the squad," Slot said. “I have said many times before what has been said between us will stay between us.”

Liverpool's fans demonstrated they are willing to excuse Salah for his show of anger and gave him a rapturous welcome when he came on as a substitute for the injured Joe Gomez midway through the first half.

By then, Liverpool was leading 1-0 thanks to Ekitike's rising shot inside the first minute and Salah showed glimpses of his class, especially on the counterattack. It was Salah's corner kick that was headed in by Ekitike for the second goal in the 60th, sparking another round of chants for the Egyptian.

Slot said Salah was a threat all game.

“Pleasing to see but not a surprise,” Slot said.

Salah could be away for more than a month if Egypt goes all the way in the Africa Cup.

It was a second straight start for Palmer, whose season has been blighted by a groin injury that has restricted him to seven games in all competitions.

There looked to be nothing wrong with Palmer when he ran onto Malo Gusto's pass and slipped a finish inside the near post to give Chelsea the lead in the 21st minute at Stamford Bridge.

However, Palmer said after the game that he wasn't at his best yet because he was “still dealing with an injury.”

“It’s just a matter of not doing too much too soon,” Palmer told the BBC. “Literally, it’s just a day-by-day thing. Hopefully it gets better.”

Gusto added the second goal in the 45th minute for Chelsea, which jumped to fourth place.

Steve Douglas is at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Chelsea's Cole Palmer celebrates after scoring his sides first goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Everton in London, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)

Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Liverpool fans hold placard depicting Liverpool's Mohamed Salah before the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, left, challenges for the ball with Brighton's Lewis Dunk during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)