The Yankees clawed their way back from a late tie on Sunday, locking down an 8-3 series-clinching win against the Toronto Blue Jays, thanks to some absolute clutch hitting from Ben Rice, Trent Grisham, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. This was a critical game at Yankee Stadium, a real grinder that saw the Bombers really put the hammer down when it mattered.
Rodón Shakes Off Rust, Early Offense Lights the Fuse
Carlos Rodón, making his second start back from left elbow inflammation, pitched four innings, tossing 76 pitches with 42 strikes. He started strong, but gave up two runs, one earned, over his final two frames. It was more activity than his last outing, a 66-pitch return, but in the same amount of innings, allowing two hits while striking out two and walking two. With Max Fried and Ryan Weathers on the IL, the Yankees are clearly trying to build Rodón up, and his next start is huge. Early on, Spencer Jones and Austin Wells had his back, each smashing RBI doubles in the second inning to put the Yankees ahead and give Rodón a lead to work with. Jones, batting sixth, kept a great day going, adding a fourth-inning walk and a sixth-inning single, pushing his season slash line to .233/.315/.428 with seven homers and 22 RBI in 57 games.
Grisham and Rice Unleash a Sixth-Inning Rally
The Blue Jays found themselves in a real bind in the sixth when Grisham and Rice stepped up in a bases-loaded, two-out, full-count situation. Talk about pressure! Grisham’s walk pushed the Yankees ahead, 3-2, but Rice absolutely blew the game open with a two-run double. Rice, who also notched a single in the first inning, has been an absolute beast this season, stepping up huge without Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. He’s slashing an incredible .249/.345/.525 with a ridiculous 34 home runs and 82 RBI. The man is a big bat, period. Grisham wasn’t done, either, smashing his 18th homer of the season with a solo shot in the eighth that really padded the eventual 8-3 final. Jazz Chisholm Jr., who had a single in the sixth, followed up with his own 18th home run in the seventh, cashing Cody Bellinger’s leadoff single on a two-out long ball that put the Yankees ahead by five. With Stanton now out with a strained left calf, Chisholm’s bat is absolutely essential.
The AL East Race Heats Up as September Looms
This win was massive, bringing the Yankees to 74-56 for the season. They’ve been on a tear, winning six of their last seven games, and they’re only trailing the Tampa Bay Rays by three games heading into the final week of August. The Rays, sitting at 77-53, managed a 3-1 win over the Orioles, grabbing a much-needed victory after dropping three straight in Baltimore. The AL East standings are incredibly tight right now. With September right around the corner, the Yankees are absolutely within striking distance to take the division. All eyes will be on Rodón’s next start and if the bats can keep this incredible momentum rolling.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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