For six innings, the Yankees were stuck in one of those nights where nothing seems to break open. Then the seventh arrived, and everything changed.
Ryan McMahon and Trent Grisham each delivered back-to-back two-run singles, the bullpen kept rolling, and New York beat the Seattle Mariners 4-1 on Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium. The win pushed the Yankees to 67-52 and gave them the opener of the three-game series.
The game started with Seattle grabbing the first punch. Randy Arozarena finally solved Ryan Weathers in the sixth, sending a solo homer the other way into the short porch in right field to break a scoreless game and put the Mariners in front 1-0. It also snapped Weathers’ scoreless streak at 23 innings.
Even with that one swing, Weathers gave New York exactly the kind of start that keeps a team afloat when the bats are quiet. He worked 5 2/3 innings, allowed two hits and one earned run, walked three and struck out four. Yankees starters have now given up no more than one run in 10 of their last 13 games.
The offense had already teased something before the breakthrough inning. Luis García Jr. doubled in the first, and Grisham doubled in the third, but neither threat turned into a run. In the seventh, García led off with another double, and this time the Yankees made it count.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. followed with a single to move García to third, and after George Lombard Jr. struck out, Chisholm stole second. Spencer Jones then walked to load the bases.
That set the stage for McMahon, who lined a single into left-center to score García and Chisholm and flip the score to 2-1 Yankees. Austin Wells followed with a single to fill the bases again, and Grisham came through with another single to left, bringing home Jones and McMahon for a 4-1 cushion.
The Yankees didn’t need anything more after that. Tim Hill took over for Weathers in the sixth and retired all four batters he faced.
Brent Headrick tossed a perfect eighth with two strikeouts. David Bednar finished it in the ninth, allowing one infield single while striking out Julio Rodríguez and Cal Raleigh for his 27th save.
Seattle managed just three hits all night.
García finished 2-for-4 with two doubles, Grisham went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, and McMahon drove in the pair that turned the game. The Yankees didn’t homer and didn’t exactly light up the scoreboard, but one inning was enough.
The series continues Wednesday night, with Will Warren (8-6, 4.18 ERA) set to face Mariners right-hander Bryce Miller (4-6, 3.08 ERA).
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 🡒]