Wednesday was a somber day in America. Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was tragically assassinated during a Turning Point event at Utah Valley University, passing away at just 31 years old. And his death sparked an outpouring of support and tributes across the country, including from the sports world. Even the New York Yankees joined in honoring him, holding a moment of silence before their game against the Detroit Tigers.

Kirk, who grew up in the Chicago area and was well known as a die-hard Cubs fan, didn’t have any obvious ties to the Yankees. However, there’s a link to the Yankees this week. Because President Donald Trump is scheduled to attend Thursday’s Yankees game against the Tigers. The matchup also falls on the 24th anniversary of the Sept. 11 ter–r attacks.

“Before tonight’s game, we held a moment of silence in memoriam of Charlie Kirk. Kirk founded the youth activist group “Turning Point USA” and became a fixture on college campuses. Charlie Kirk, a husband and father of two children, was 31 years old.” The Yankees’ official statement reads.

Kirk is survived by his children and wife, and the Yankees just hold their tradition high by remembering the deceased soul.

If you know, the Bombers have long carried a reputation for honoring more than just baseball legends. Time and again, the team has paused to remember lives lost across all walks of life. This ranges from first responders and public figures to members of the wider community. Yankee Stadium has often been a place where moments of silence transcend the game, turning into collective acts of remembrance.

However, the way the Yankees are playing against the Tigers is surely concerning.

The Tigers are routing the Yankees

Before the Tigers-Yankees series, it was widely discussed how the Yankees would perform against the table-topper Tigers. And the fear just came true. After the 12-2 drubbing in the first game, the Tigers bite back at the Yankees by 11-1 in the second game!

It’s been a rough couple of nights for the Yankees. Aaron Boone’s squad has been outscored 23-3 over two games against a fellow AL playoff contender, and with the postseason just a few weeks away, the timing couldn’t be worse. And what’s wild is that only four of those 23 runs came off the Yankees’ starters. The bullpen has been tagged for the other 19!

So, now on Thursday, New York will simply try to avoid the sweep. But the real question will be how the pitching staff holds up once he hands the ball over. And as for the standings, the Bombers are three games behind the Blue Jays in the AL East with 17 left on the schedule. However, they still have some breathing room in the wild-card race, holding a four-game cushion over the Rangers.