The Yankees keep winning, but they’re doing it the hard way.
On Tuesday night, they beat the Mariners 4-1 for their third straight comeback victory, another night where the offense spent most of the game waiting to wake up before finally taking over late. Ryan Weathers had them bottled up for much of the night, carrying a one-hit shutout into the sixth and pushing his scoreless streak to 23 innings before Randy Arozarena broke it up with a solo homer. Weathers finished with 5.2 strong innings, and the Yankee bullpen was spotless again.
Still, there was the familiar problem: the Yankees were trailing 1-0. Again.
This time, the turnaround came in the seventh. Ryan McMahon came through with a two-run single, then Trent Grisham followed with another two-run knock to flip the game from 1-0 to 4-1 in a hurry. The result was another comeback win, and another reminder that this team keeps asking for late drama.
There’s plenty to like about the fight. Three straight comeback victories says something about the group.
But there’s also only so much patience a fan can have for six innings of offensive sleepwalking before the bats finally show up. At some point, the Yankees need to start games with the same urgency they’re showing when they’re already behind.
The play that really stood out, though, didn’t come at the plate.
It came from George Lombard Jr.
In the first inning, a grounder up the middle hit the second-base bag and took a hard bounce in a new direction. Lombard reacted right away, scooped it with his bare hand, and made the throw to first for the out. It was the kind of play that looks easy only after somebody has already made it.
What made it pop was the quickness of the decision. Lombard didn’t go barehand because he was trying to put on a show. He did it because that was the play in front of him, and he made it without hesitation.
That kind of feel is hard to teach. You can drill footwork, work on throws, and field grounders until your hands hurt. But that instant recognition - seeing chaos and responding cleanly - is different.
Lombard has it.
And after all the errors, misplays and routine balls that have somehow turned into adventures, it’s fair to ask the question every Yankee fan probably asked watching that play: do you think in a million years Anthony Volpe makes that play?
The Yankees were told plenty about Volpe being an elite defender. Meanwhile, Lombard is out there at shortstop stacking up defensive highlights, showing range, clean hands and smooth throws, and now even handling a ball that bounced off second base like it was nothing.
The Yankees won 4-1. Weathers was excellent.
McMahon and Grisham delivered the big hits. The bullpen stayed perfect.
The comeback streak is alive.
But the real eye-opener was Lombard. Keep hitting the ball his way, and the kid might keep giving the Yankees something worth watching.
In Other News...
Yankees Suddenly Have A Chance To Upgrade Behind Austin Wells
The catching market shifted quickly when Boston activated Adley Rutschman from the injured list and moved on from Jake Rogers, a veteran backstop who has been in the mix with multiple clubs this summer. For a Yankees team that has Austin Wells entrenched as the starter and Ali Snchez as the right-handed reserve, that kind of roster churn can matter, especially when a familiar name suddenly becomes available.
Rogers is the sort of catcher clubs value for reasons that do not always show up in the box score. He has a reputation for handling pitchers well and bringing defensive stability, while his bat has not been the draw. For the Yankees, the question is whether that profile is enough to make him a better fit than what they already have behind Wells, and whether they see enough upside to jump in before another team does. [Read more 🡒]
Yankees May Have Won The Catcher Gamble Without Making The Splash
The Yankees chose the quieter route behind the plate, signing Mitch Garver to shore up a catcher spot that needed attention without chasing the biggest name on the market. It was the kind of move that drew less noise than a blockbuster pursuit, but it also reflected a front office willing to trust fit and value over headlines, especially with other catching options moving around the league.
Adley Rutschmans path to Boston only adds to the conversation, because the former top prospect has not been the same offensive force he once was and his recent seasons have been shaped by injuries. For the Yankees, the larger takeaway is less about who they passed on and more about whether a modest gamble can pay off in a division where the Red Sox have altered their roster and the Orioles are forced to reconsider theirs. [Read more 🡒]
Yankees Frustration With Trent Grisham Just Spilled Into Plain View
Trent Grishams first year back in pinstripes has not unfolded the way the Yankees hoped after he accepted a $22 million qualifying offer following a strong previous season. His offense has backed up a bit, and the bigger concern has been the work in center field, where his defense has graded below average and started to draw sharper attention as the season has worn on.
That unease spilled into the open during a recent game, when a defensive misplay set off visible frustration from a Yankees pitcher on the mound. It was the kind of moment that tends to linger beyond one inning, because for a team with postseason expectations, shaky communication and uneven play in center can quickly become more than just a passing annoyance. [Read more 🡒]