Twins Crush Yankees 11-4 With 6 Homers as New York Drops 8 of 9

Q: As veteran Paul Goldschmidt's historic slump deepens, will the Yankees bench the struggling star for younger talent?

Probably not, at least not immediately. Goldschmidt’s 0-for-21 skid and bases-loaded popout against Minnesota sharpen the question, but the broader evidence still argues against a full benching. Even with this slump, he has remained productive overall in 2026, with strong season-long numbers and particular value against left-handed pitching. The Yankees also signed him for a complementary role and have leaned on him more heavily only because injuries to Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and others have thinned the lineup. The more realistic outcome is a reduction in at-bats, not a hard benching. Ben Rice has already forced his way into regular playing time, so the Yankees do have younger production at first base. As healthier bats return later in the summer, Goldschmidt is the kind of veteran whose role could shift back toward matchup usage, pinch-hitting and selective starts rather than everyday duty. Context matters here. The Yankees’ problems on July 4 were much bigger than one veteran’s slump: Brenden Beck’s rough start, six home runs allowed, and continuing defensive breakdowns were the main reasons for the 11-4 loss. The offense as a whole has also been cold, with several regulars struggling at once, so Goldschmidt is not an isolated case. Unless his slump worsens over a longer stretch, the Yankees are more likely to manage Goldschmidt’s workload than bench him outright. His veteran presence, clubhouse standing and still-useful bat make a total demotion unlikely for now.

3 articles · Updated · ESPN · Jul 4

Six Minnesota homers powered an 11-4 win in the Bronx, with Josh Bell going deep twice and the Twins posting their first six-homer game since Sept. 4, 2023.
Kody Clemens, Luke Keaschall and Alex Jackson tagged Brendan Beck in the first two innings as Minnesota jumped ahead 6-0; Beck allowed five runs in 3 2/3 innings in his first big league start.
Bell's seventh- and eighth-inning shots reopened the game after New York cut the deficit to 6-4, and they followed two Yankees errors that underscored a defensive slide with 19 miscues in 14 games.
Jasson Domínguez and Max Schuemann briefly sparked the Yankees, but the club still lost for the eighth time in nine games and surrendered six homers for the first time since Aug. 15, 2019.