Grisham, Williams anchor Yankees’ win over Royals away from headlines

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Max Fried and Jasson Dominguez headlined the Yankees’ 4-2 win over the Royals, but Trent Grisham and Devin Williams were unsung heroes of the victory.

While Jasson Dominguez’s contact lens incident and timely hitting grabbed headlines, it was Trent Grisham’s defensive prowess and Devin Williams’ ninth-inning mastery that ultimately secured the New York Yankees’ 4-2 triumph over the Kansas City Royals Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium. In a contest marked by strategic substitutions and unexpected developments, these crucial late-game contributions proved decisive in preserving the Yankees’ hard-fought win.

Grisham’s glove saves the Yankees’ night

Though not penciled into the Yankees’ starting lineup daily, Trent Grisham has established himself as an invaluable defensive specialist. Tuesday’s performance reinforced that reputation emphatically.

Following Dominguez’s exit after his momentum-shifting three-run double in the sixth inning – a departure necessitated by dislodged contact lenses – manager Aaron Boone reconfigured his outfield. Cody Bellinger shifted from center to left field, with Grisham taking over center field duties. The adjustment paid immediate dividends.

In the seventh inning, with Hunter Renfroe aboard and starter Max Fried showing signs of fatigue, Royals batter MJ Melendez launched a dangerous drive toward right-center that threatened to change the game’s complexion. Showcasing the exceptional range, Grisham raced to the warning track and made a full-extension catch – the type of play that likely would have eluded many outfielders, Bellinger included.

“Huge,” acknowledged Fried, who was battling through his final inning. “I felt like I kind of lost it there in the seventh. That ball lands, Renfroe was aggressive trying to get to second, maybe even third. So for [Grisham] to catch that limited the damage big-time.”

Boone’s consistent strategy of deploying Grisham as a defensive closer once again produced results for the Yankees.

“First play Grish goes out and makes an unbelievable play,” Boone remarked afterward. “It’s just part of how I want to use the roster here and let JD [Domínguez] continue to get more and more comfortable.”

Despite Dominguez’s defensive improvement – highlighted by two exceptional catches in Monday’s contest – Boone remains cautious with his young outfielder. Of Domínguez’s 15 starts this season, he’s been replaced defensively in seven. While Tuesday’s substitution stemmed from unusual circumstances, it nevertheless underscored Grisham’s defensive value.

Acquired during the offseason partly for his glove work, the two-time Gold Glove winner Grisham has embraced his specialized role. He provides critical defensive insurance in tight situations and game-changing coverage when most needed – exactly as the Yankees envisioned when adding him to their roster.

Williams finds his groove in the ninth

While Grisham’s defense maintained the Yankees’ lead, Devin Williams ensured it would stand up.

New York’s recently acquired closer, obtained from Milwaukee in a significant offseason transaction, recorded his third save of the campaign. More importantly, he delivered his first clean inning since donning pinstripes.

In earlier appearances, Williams had displayed flashes of the electric repertoire that earned him National League Reliever of the Year honors – particularly his signature changeup – but struggled with consistency and location. Tuesday night, everything clicked.

Facing Melendez with two outs in the ninth, Williams unleashed a quintessential changeup that froze the Royals slugger for the game-ending strikeout. The pitch punctuated a perfect 1-2-3 inning that Yankees supporters had been eagerly awaiting from their new ninth-inning specialist.

“Even in some of the outings where he’s struggled, he’s flashed all of that,” Boone observed. “Probably the consistent value of the fastball was there a little bit more. I thought his stuff was good. The last pitch was really nasty to finish it off. … Overall, I thought he was pretty sharp.”

That final offering – an 85 mph changeup with pronounced downward action – exemplified Williams’ effectiveness when locked in. After struggling to a 9.00 ERA through his first four Yankees appearances, Tuesday’s performance provided a confidence boost for both pitcher and team alike.

Building confidence in high-leverage roles

The victory highlighted an emerging strength for the Yankees: growing trust in their supporting cast.

While Grisham and Williams may lack the star power of Aaron Judge or Max Fried, both play pivotal roles in the Yankees’ formula for winning close contests. Boone’s late-game strategy continues to emphasize defensive replacements and bullpen matchups – an approach that’s yielding positive results.

Boone acknowledged the luxury of having a player like Grisham available as a defensive specialist. He added that Williams is finding his rhythm, and when the closer locks in, he can be truly dominant.

The Yankees, now sitting at 10-7 and gaining momentum in the AL East race, are developing the hallmarks of a team that excels in tight situations – not solely through star performances, but through specialized contributors stepping up at crucial moments.

Grisham secured the advantage with his glove. Williams slammed the door with his arm.

For a franchise with championship aspirations, these types of contributions represent exactly how postseason-caliber teams are constructed.

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