BOSTON — Aaron Judge, MLB's standout slugger, has had a phenomenal season, topping the charts in almost every offensive category. Comparisons to legends like Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, and Barry Bonds have been tossed around as he proves his prowess at the plate. However, his recent series against the Red Sox left fans questioning: what's going on?

In a disappointing three-game showdown in Boston, Judge managed just one hit — a crucial home run that sent Friday's game into extras. In Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at Fenway Park, Judge faced further struggles, going 0-for-4 and striking out three times, contributing to the Yankees' sweep.

The star's frustration was palpable, especially during a critical moment in the eighth inning when the Yankees had a promising situation with runners on first and second. Instead of capitalizing, Judge grounded into an inning-ending double play, squashing New York's chance for a comeback.

Judge acknowledged his struggles, saying, "You’ve got to swing at strikes. It usually helps any hitter when you swing at strikes." His recent tendency to chase pitches outside the zone has been uncharacteristic, causing him to flounder against the Sox's pitching.

Ultimately, Judge's performance was part of a larger issue; the Yankees struggled as a team, collectively securing just five hits on Sunday. With Judge going 1-for-12 in the series and striking out nine times, it was evident that the star power alone wasn't enough to lift the team.

"They pitched him tough," said Yankees manager Aaron Boone. "He had a massive hit to force extra innings the first night. That’s baseball. It's why guys don’t hit .450 with 900 homers — you’re going to have weekends where they execute and get you. Hitting is hard. It’s hard to be perfect."

The Red Sox can take credit for their impressive pitching, with manager Alex Cora praising their strategy. "It's hard, very hard to pitch to Judge. He’s incredible, but we used our fastballs in the right spots this weekend and it paid off," he reflected.

As the season progresses, the Yankees need Judge to bounce back quickly. While he remains one of the most formidable hitters in the game, baseball is unforgiving, and every player faces a rough patch. The key for New York will be finding ways to win when their star isn't shining bright.