exclusive New York Yankees Yankees hitting coach tells The Post that struggling offense will be ‘better for it’ in end By Dan Martin Published Aug. 9, 2026, 10:13 p.m. ET Yankees shortstop George Lombard Jr. (96) reacts after hitting into an inning ending double play in the fifth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Yankee Stadium. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect Even before the Yankees were shut down again by Atlanta in a 2-1, 10-inning loss Sunday, they entered with some alarming numbers since Aaron Judge was sidelined by a fractured rib at the end of May.
During the stretch, they’ve scored the fourth-fewest runs, had the lowest batting average and on-base percentage and highest strikeout rate in the majors.
Prior to Sunday’s game, hitting coach James Rowson acknowledged the lineup’s struggles in a conversation with The Post, but insisted the picture wasn’t as bleak as the numbers might indicate.
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“I do think when you look at where we’re trying to go, we’re at the time of year where our mindset is on trying to get wins,’’ Rowson said. “The end goal is not that we get the most hits. The end goal is that we score the most runs in the game. Whether we do that 3-2 or 9-3, I feel if we stay focused on winning games and not have tough days offensively as a distraction, we’ll be better for it.”
