By Jessica Kwong

NEW YORK.—Even with star Aaron Judge on the injured list, the struggling New York Yankees beat the Oakland Athletics 7-2 on Monday night in game one of the series at Yankee Stadium.

A’s starting pitcher JP Sears allowed five runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings. A’s manager Mark Kotsay acknowledged that Sears’ slider became less effective as the game went on and that “tonight was for growth”.

“He’s a student of the game,” Kotsay said of Sears.

“I’m sure he’s down tonight based on the performance but overall through five innings, he gave us a chance to win a game and offensively we didn’t help him either. We had some good opportunities to capitalize… and we didn’t come through.”

Sears said he “felt good” and has been feeling as such for the last four starts.

‘They’re all great hitters over there, obviously,” he said of the Yankees.

Oswaldo Cabrera hit a homer on a fly ball to left field in the bottom of the fifth inning and Harrison Bader scored, putting the Yankees up 2-0.

In the sixth, Tony Kemp hit a soft ground ball to first baseman Anthony Rizzo and allowed Brent Rooker to score and cut New York’s lead to 2-1. Then Jace Peterson walked and Jesus Aguilar scored, tying the game.

But Gleyber Torres hit a home run to left field, then DJ LeMahieu homered on a fly ball to left center field and Rizzo scored, boosting the Yankees up 5-2. In the seventh, Aaron Hicks homered to right field and Jose Trevino scored to make it 7-2.

A’s outfielder Ramón Laureano is in concussion protocol and will remain day-to-day, Kotsay said.

Oakland (8-28) is 2-2 in their current six-game road trip. The series continues on Tuesday with A’s right-handed pitcher Drew Rucinski facing Yankees right-handed pitcher Clarke Schmidt at 4:05 p.m. PT.

The Yankees (19-17) are set on Tuesday to activate Judge who has been on the injured list with a strained right hip, so it won’t be getting any easier for the A’s.