Add The New York Post on Google PHILADELPHIA — Aaron Judge was back in the visiting dugout at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday night and had a front-row seat to an 11-4 loss to the Phillies.
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If the Yankees end up getting Judge back and make a run in the postseason, Sunday night’s lineup might be amusing to some.
If they don’t, it could be looked at as a low point for a team that sure seems in need of some reinforcements before the Aug. 3 trade deadline, which is a week from Monday.
By then, we’ll have a better idea of what the Yankees will look like down the stretch, but until Judge and — maybe — Giancarlo Stanton get back from the IL, it’s hard to expect anything from this lineup.
That’s even more true now that Cody Bellinger has joined Judge and Stanton on the IL with left hamstring tightness.
“That’s above my pay grade,” Judge said when asked what he thought of where the team’s needs were as the deadline approaches. “We’ve got a good team where we’re at. That’s our job as players, to give the front office the ability to get the final pieces. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens.”
At this point, though, the current version of the Yankees can be a tough watch.
Look at the middle of Sunday night’s depleted lineup:
Amed Rosario, a key part of the Yankees’ strong second half last season, entered Sunday in a 1-for-18 rut with 11 strikeouts in that span.
And yet, he was forced to hit third against Philadelphia lefty Cristopher Sánchez.
Then there was Jasson Domínguez, now further entrenched as the regular right fielder with both Judge and Bellinger sidelined.
Domínguez hit cleanup and was followed by Anthony Volpe.
Volpe delivered a pair of doubles, but they were his first extra-base hits in a month and he made an ugly throwing error to open the bottom of the sixth that set up Philadelphia’s five-run inning that iced the game.
George Lombard Jr. seems closer to the majors every day.
He’s 12-for-26 with four extra-base hits in eight games at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre since returning from an IL stint due to sprained fingers, although he made a throwing error Sunday.
And Max Schuemann, out of place in left field, dove for a ball far out of his reach on Alec Bohm’s three-run double in the third.
José Caballero went hitless again in the ugly loss.
Asked before the game if he believed the Yankees needed another bat by the deadline, Aaron Boone said, “We’ll see. I know we want to try to improve our club. I know the front office is grinding away at that. I know we’re gonna try … You never know what’s gonna be out there.”
As The Post has reported, they are in the market for a righty-hitting outfielder and catcher, as well as help in the bullpen.
Despite their issues, the Yankees head to Chicago to play the White Sox for four games and then the Cubs for three, firmly in postseason contention.
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“Keep moving forward,’’ Judge said of the team’s mentality. “We’ve got a lot of depth with guys in the minor leagues that are ready to go.”
He also noted, “There’s no replacing Bellinger.”
