Article written by Bobby Santoro
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One night after the Yankees blew a late lead against Boston, they finally showed signs of life in an absolute classic out at Fenway Park on Saturday. Earlier in the day, the Bombers made their first deal ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline by acquiring Jazz Chisholm from Miami for prospects Augustin Ramirez, Jared Serna, and Abrahan Ramirez.
The move gives the Yankees a leadoff hitter and another player that provides intensity and fire to the team. Questions will now surround Gleyber Torres, with the Yankees having to either move him to third base (a bad idea) or have Jazz run the hot corner. Time will tell, depending on the other moves Brian Cashman can make as rumors swirled about a potential deal with Tampa involving closer Pete Fairbanks paired with Ahmed Rosario, but water was quickly poured on the flames, with Bryan Hoch stating nothing was close.
Even with rumors, the Yankees had to find a way to bounce back from Friday night’s loss, and the bats came alive early. Verdugo almost led the game off with a home run but was held to a single after the ball bounced off the wall. Juan Soto dug in and launched the second pitch he saw over the right-center field wall, putting New York up 2-0. Soto was still dapping up his teammates when Judge smacked his 37th long ball of the year, going back-to-back (belly-to-belly) with Soto.
The Sox tied things up quickly, and that seemed to be the theme of the night. Marcus Stroman just didn’t have his best stuff Saturday night. Each time the Yankees took the lead, it was quickly given right back as the bullpen continued to look shaky.
After Oswaldo Cabrerra’s solo shot in the 2nd put the Bombers back on top, Boston took a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the inning, capping off a combined total of nine runs in the first two innings of the game. Judge laced a game-tying single in the 5th, but Tyler O’Neil belted a solo shot of his own in the bottom of the inning to put the Red Sox back on top 6-5.
The offense kept battling back, and the struggling Ben Rice helped manufacture the game-tying run by lifting a sac-fly to center, scoring Judge to make it a 6-6 ballgame. The lead was once again short-lived as Tyler O’Neil launched his second home run of the game off Michael Tomkin. David Hamilton’s RBI double later in the inning made it an 8-6 Boston lead.
Judge cut the deficit to one run in the 8th after doubling home Verdugo, leaving it up to the bottom of the order to come through in the 9th inning.
After Torres went down on strikes to lead the 9th inning, Rice drove a double off the wall in center, giving the Yankees some life. An Anthony Volpe groundout brought up Trent Grisham as the final hope. Down to his final strike, Grisham lifted a ball deep into left-center and got just enough of it to bang it off the wall and tie the game.
Boone summoned Clay Holmes to pitch the bottom of the 9th and this time, we saw the Clay Holmes of old. Holmes had a quick 1-2-3 inning, bringing the suddenly hot Yankees offense back to the plate with a chance to take the lead.
Boston reliever Chase Anderson walked Judge to load the bases with one out, bringing Austin Wells to the plate. Since becoming the starter behind the plate after Trevino went down, Wells has shown why he has been the organization’s top catching prospect. Wells showed his poise and lofted a go-ahead sac fly to give the Yankees the lead.
Torres roped a two-run double later in the inning, breaking out of his slump and giving the Yanks an 11-8 lead. Torres could be seen raising both arms to the sky in relief, knowing how badly the team needed that from him.
Holmes locked it down in the bottom of the 10th, giving the Yankees a win that we may look back on as the turning point win of the year.
Top of the Order
Verdugo, Soto, and Judge combined for nine of the team’s 16 hits to lead the offense in a night when they needed them the most. Judge finished the night 4-4 with a homer and three RBI, while Soto was 2-5, including his two-run bomb to start the game.
Next Up:
Carlos Rodon takes the ball Sunday night, looking to build on his last start against Tampa. Rodon went seven innings, allowing one earned run and having ten strikeouts en route to his tenth win of the season.
Rodon hasn’t pitched well against the Red Sox in his career, but perhaps under the bright lights of Sunday Night Baseball, he gets fired up, and we see an electric performance from him.
Boston will send Tanner Houck to the mound as first pitch is slated for 7:10 PM.