Yankees slide continues thanks to walk-off Rangers HR in extras; Aaron Judge could return as soon as Tuesday

A change of venue was not the cure for what's ailing the New York Yankees.

Help could soon be on the way. Prior to Monday's game against the Texas Rangers, manager Aaron Boone announced that MVP slugger Aaron Judge could return to the lineup from injury as soon as Tuesday. But Judge was of no help to the Yankees Monday night.

Hours after Boone's announcement, the Yankees lost, 8-5 to the Rangers in heartbreaking, walk-off fashion.

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Yankees blow lead, lose on walk-off

The Yankees struck first with a leadoff home run by Paul Goldschmidt, then took a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the second inning. But the Rangers batted around in the second to take a 4-3 lead.

The Yankees retook the lead and held a 5-4 advantage heading into the bottom of the ninth. There, pinch hitter Joc Pederson sent it to extras.

With the bases empty and one out, Pederson launched a 2-1 Devin Williams changeup over the plate into the right-field stands to tie the game at 5-5.

The blown save was the third of the season for Williams, a two-time All-Star and lights-out closer with the Milwaukee Brewers. With Pederson's home run, Williams' ERA in his first season in New York inflated to 5.10.

The blast set up Josh Jung for his 10th-inning heroics.

With a man on second and two outs, the Yankees intentionally walked Wyatt Langford to get to Jung in the six slot. Reliever Jake Bird left a 1-1 sinker thigh-high and just inside that Jung turned on. The result was a no-doubt home run into the left-field stands that ended the game.

Yankees in free-fall, face critical games vs. Rangers

The loss was the Yankees' fourth straight following an unprecedented three-game sweep at the hands of the Miami Marlins. They're now 7-10 since the All-Star break.

The defeat dropped the once first-place Yankees to 60-53, 5.5 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL East and 2.5 games behind the rival Boston Red Sox, who won their sixth straight game Monday night. It also left them with a 1.5-game cushion over the Rangers and in a tie with the Seattle Mariners for the last wild-card spot in the American League.

This three-game series against the Rangers could end up proving critical for the postseason standings, and it's already going bad for New York. Judge can't return soon enough.

Will Judge play Tuesday night?

Judge has missed 10 straight games with a flexor strain in his right elbow that landed him on the injured list. He took batting practice over the weekend and is eligible to return to the lineup Tuesday.

Boone told reporters Monday that that's the plan. Or he thinks it is, at least.

"I think that’s the plan,” Boone said of starting Judge Tuesday night.

Barring risk of further injury, expect Judge to play on Tuesday if there's any way that he can.