NEW YORK — When the Yankees needed their ace most, Max Fried delivered a masterclass in perseverance.
The Yankees left-hander battled through early adversity to anchor a thrilling 7-5 comeback victory over Tampa Bay on Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium. Cody Bellinger’s three-run blast highlighted a dramatic turnaround that saw New York erase a three-run deficit and move within four games of first place in the AL East.
The triumph lifted the Yankees to 58-49 as they capitalized on Baltimore’s doubleheader sweep of division-leading Toronto. For a team searching for consistency in every facet, this performance provided the blueprint they’ve been seeking.
Fried shows mettle after rocky start
Fried’s evening began in disaster. Anthony Volpe’s defensive miscue opened the door for two unearned runs in the first inning. Jonathan Aranda’s third-inning homer made it 3-0, leaving the Yankees’ season hanging in the balance.
What followed was vintage Fried at his finest for the Yankees .
The southpaw regrouped immediately, blanking Tampa Bay over the next 14 consecutive batters. He worked through 6⅔ innings on 111 pitches, surrendering just four hits and two walks while fanning nine Rays hitters.
“It was just important for me to go out there and make sure we put us in a really good chance to win today,” Fried explained. “Just wanted to bear down, hold us there to be able to help the offense do what they do.”
His curveball proved devastating. Fried threw the breaking ball 34 times, generating eight whiffs and keeping Tampa Bay’s lineup off-balance throughout his outing.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone considered removing Fried after a seventh-inning walk, but gave him one final hitter. Taylor Walls made it count with an RBI double before Jonathan Loaisiga entered to close the frame.
“Just kind of a stud, grind it [out] effort by him,” Boone praised afterward.
Bellinger’s blast ignites Yankees rally
The Yankees’ offense awakened in the bottom of the third with their backs against the wall.
Austin Wells and Ben Rice worked consecutive walks against Joe Boyle, bringing Bellinger to the plate with the bases loaded. The veteran slugger wasted little time, crushing a 1-0 fastball 383 feet over the right-field fence for his 20th home run of the campaign.
The three-run shot marked Bellinger’s 10th homer in 24 games, continuing his torrid summer surge.
“A ton of big hits [from Bellinger], and obviously that was a big blow,” Boone noted.
The momentum shift proved immediate for the Yankees. Jasson Dominguez singled to open the fourth and promptly stole second base. After advancing to third on a fly ball, he scored when Volpe lined an RBI single to center field.
Volpe’s aggressive baserunning created additional opportunities. He swiped second and third before racing home on catcher Nick Fortes’ throwing error. Paul Goldschmidt capped the rally with another RBI single, giving the Yankees a commanding 6-3 advantage.
Boyle exited after 3⅓ innings, tagged for six runs on four hits and three walks.
Volpe’s wild ride continues with highs and lows
Anthony Volpe’s performance embodied his enigmatic season in microcosm.
The young Yankees shortstop’s first-inning error extended Tampa Bay’s scoring chance and helped stake the Rays to their early lead. His ninth-inning miscue nearly gifted the visitors another crucial opportunity.
Between those defensive lapses, however, Volpe showcased exactly why the Yankees remain confident in his future.
He collected two hits and drove in two runs while swiping a pair of bases. His eighth-inning solo homer traveled a career-high 452 feet, extending the Yankees’ cushion to 7-4.
“I’ve never really experienced something like this . . . I know what I’m capable of,” Volpe reflected. “It’s obviously frustrating, but it’s not discouraging. And I know the standard that I have for myself. I’m just going to keep pushing until I just prove it to myself every day.”
Still, his 15th error leads all major league shortstops. The latest miscue put the tying runs on base before Devin Williams struck out Aranda for his 17th save.
“Obviously got dicey there, and plays we got to finish,” Boone acknowledged.
Pen survives late-inning drama
With the bullpen stretched thin from recent usage, Fried’s extended outing provided crucial relief.
Loáisiga navigated a scoreless eighth inning despite baserunners, helped by a double play that Volpe initiated to redeem his earlier mistake.
Williams faced immediate trouble in the ninth when Brandon Lowe led off with a triple. A sacrifice fly cut the deficit to two runs, but the closer regrouped to strike out Aranda and preserve the victory.
The Yankees have captured five victories in their last 13 contests, but this performance highlighted their potential when everything clicks.
They improved to 12-19 against AL East opponents while benefiting from Toronto’s struggles. With Aaron Judge sidelined, secondary contributors like Bellinger, Dominguez, and Volpe have stepped into larger roles.
Fried improved to 10-1 in 13 starts following Yankees losses this season. His 2.62 ERA leads the rotation.
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