TAMPA, Fla. — Giancarlo Stanton rose to the moment Wednesday night, crushing a decisive pinch-hit home run in the 10th inning to power the New York Yankees past the Tampa Bay Rays, 6-4, at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
The dramatic blast sealed a sweep of their trip through St. Louis and Tampa Bay, stretching the Yankees’ winning streak to five games and giving their postseason push a much-needed lift in the American League wild-card chase.
Stanton’s clutch moment saves Yankees’ day
NYY@X
With the score tied 3-3 in extras, Giancarlo Stanton stepped in with Anthony Volpe serving as the ghost runner on second. The veteran slugger jumped on a Pete Fairbanks fastball and drove it deep into the Tampa night for his 15th homer in his last 34 contests.
“The guy is one of the most focused players I’ve ever seen,” Yankees captain Aaron Judge said. “He was locked in, dialed in. Doesn’t matter if he hasn’t had an at-bat all night. He was going to be ready for his moment. He came up big.”
The blast marked Stanton’s fifth homer in six Yankees games and continued his remarkable hot streak since returning from injury in June. The 34-year-old has transformed his approach to pinch-hitting, going 4-for-7 with two homers in such situations this season after struggling mightily in previous years.
“The idea and the mindset is usually there. It’s just a matter of clicking and doing the rest,” Stanton said. “There’s always adjustments you can do smarter and better as the years go. It’s just applying. It’s about executing your plan more often.”
Yankees manager Aaron Boone credited Stanton’s mindset and experience.
“He’s so good at the mental game now, preparing and knowing how to do it,” Boone said. “He has tremendous self-awareness of who is as a hitter now. He’s an animal.”
Wells and Grisham provide offensive firepower
Austin Wells followed Stanton immediately with his second home run of the night, adding insurance runs and making Yankees history. For the first time, the franchise hit back-to-back homers in extra innings.
For Wells, the two-homer performance could not have come at a better time after recent struggles limited his playing time. His first long ball in the fifth had given the Yankees an early edge they fought to preserve.
“Awesome,” Boone said. “I mean, two absolute bombs and just a great job. Him and Schlit were on a great page together. And I thought Austin’s energy back there and command was really good.”
Trent Grisham also delivered a multi-homer night, starting the scoring with a leadoff shot and then adding another in the eighth. The outfielder’s surge fueled the Yankees’ recent power streak, as the Yankees have now blasted 14 home runs in just two games.
Trent Grisham becomes the FOURTH Yankee with a multi-homer game in this two-game series! pic.twitter.com/ot6hNJ65nr
Fittingly, Boone himself was part of that Reds team and hit the first of those 14 home runs.
“They’re on a heater,” Rays pitcher Drew Rasmussen said. “Sometimes you run into offenses like that. It’s crazy how many they’ve hit in these last two days.”
For the Yankees, the surge could not have been better timed. After slogging through a 22-32 stretch between June 13 and August 13, the lineup has come alive when it matters most.
Dramatic finish sets up crucial series
AP Photo/Tony GutierrezMLB
The night wasn’t without drama. The Yankees carried a 3-0 advantage into the ninth before closer David Bednar allowed a game-tying double to Hunter Feduccia with two outs. That collapse set the stage for Stanton’s heroics.
In the 10th, Devin Williams nailed down his first save since July 29, striking out three straight after allowing a run.
Dave Sims was HYPED as the Yankees closed out an emotional rollercoaster of a win pic.twitter.com/SDAN0F2LEq
The win lifted New York to 69-57, keeping them four games behind division leader Toronto while holding a 1.5-game edge on Boston for the top AL wild-card slot.
“It’s been a great road trip,” Stanton said. “We’ve been hitting the ball hard, hitting the ball in the air, getting a lot of homers. Timely hitting. We’re clicking on a lot of cylinders. So it’s good to take this into the weekend.”
Yankees-Red Sox showdown looms large
The Yankees’ power surge arrives just in time for a critical four-game home set against the rival Red Sox. New York has dropped five of six against Boston this season, making the upcoming series crucial for playoff positioning.
“We’ve been playing our game these past couple of series,” Judge said. “We’ll stay locked in on that, control what we can control, and take care of business.”
Pitching matchups should provide plenty of intrigue. The Yankees will send Luis Gil, Max Fried, Will Warren and Carlos Rodon to the mound, while Boston counters with Lucas Giolito, Brayan Bello, Garrett Crochet and Dustin May.
With confidence rising and five straight wins in hand, the Yankees appear prepared for the challenge. Their explosive showing in Tampa has given them the spark they need heading into a season-defining series against their longtime rivals.
