MINNEAPOLIS — With every swing, Trent Grisham continues to defy expectations. The Yankees outfielder belted two home runs on Wednesday night, lifting New York to a 10-5 victory over the Twins at Target Field. His performance helped the Yankees overcome early pitching struggles and secure the series win.
Grisham’s power display came at a critical time. New York fell behind early after a shaky outing from starter Luis Gil. But Grisham tied the game with a solo homer in the third inning and then broke it open with a three-run shot in the fourth. The Yankees never looked back.
Yankees maintain playoff positioning with strong road play
With the win, the Yankees improved to 85-67 and held their spot atop the American League Wild Card standings. New York now leads Seattle and Boston by two games in that race, while trimming Toronto’s AL East lead to four games.
The Yankees have played their best baseball away from home. Their 41-36 road record leads the American League. Only the Cubs (42-35) and Brewers (43-32) hold better road marks in the National League.
“A really, really deep team,” said Cody Bellinger, who homered in the ninth inning. “We come in here for a purpose, trying to win every ballgame, and right now we’re playing well and trying to keep it rolling.”
Grisham’s remarkable season reaches new heights
Trent Grisham, 28, has emerged as a surprising offensive force for the Yankees. His 33 home runs are a career high, and since August 20, he leads the majors with 12 long balls. On Wednesday, he broke out of a 1-for-25 slump in emphatic fashion.
His first home run came in the third inning against Twins right-hander Taj Bradley. The 432-foot solo shot tied the game at 2-2. An inning later, he launched a three-run homer that extended the Yankees’ lead to 6-2.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone praised Grisham’s consistency in big moments.
“Whether he’s going through a little lull or he’s on a hot streak where he’s hitting for power, it’s just a good at-bat and obviously there’s been a lot of big homers he’s hit for us, a lot of big hits,” Boone said.
Offensive explosion masks pitching concerns
The Yankees needed every bit of their offensive output after Luis Gil’s struggles. The right-hander lasted 4⅔ innings, giving up five runs on nine hits—his highest hit total of the season. He struggled to command the zone, allowing Minnesota to score twice in the second and three more in the fifth before being pulled.
“I got two outs quickly [in the fifth inning] and I went deep in my pocket to get more strength,” Gil said through an interpreter. “I executed some good pitches in that inning, but you got to give them credit. They were able to make some good contact on good pitches. Definitely wanted to get that last out.”
The Yankees bullpen came through after Gil exited. Fernando Cruz, Devin Williams, Luke Weaver and Camilo Doval combined for 4⅓ shutout innings. Williams was especially sharp, striking out all three batters he faced in the seventh.
Team chemistry drives second straight offensive explosion
The Yankees posted their second straight double-digit scoring effort after winning Tuesday’s game 10-9. Wednesday’s output marked the 24th time this season the team has scored 10 or more runs, the most in the majors.
Aaron Judge continued his strong season with a 3-for-4 night. He doubled, walked, and scored twice. His average now stands at .329, and his 1.132 OPS leads all of Major League Baseball.
Jasson Dominguez, who has been dealing with a tooth infection, delivered an RBI double despite limited at-bats for the Yankees. Paul Goldschmidt added two hits, and José Caballero swiped his league-leading 48th base of the year.
“I think what happened speaks to the guys we have in the clubhouse, the guys we have in that lineup,” Grisham said. “Just a resilient group. They fight a lot. Up and down the lineup, it’s just tough AB after tough AB. It’s just who we are.”
Grisham’s impact extends beyond the numbers
Cody Bellinger noted the importance of Grisham’s stability in the leadoff role, which had been unsettled earlier in the season.
“Honestly, it’s been amazing,” Bellinger said. “Stability from that [leadoff] spot, he can take you deep, he’ll take his walks, hits the ball really hard. Kind of solidified that [leadoff] spot, which is a really important spot. He does it with ease. It’s been really fun to watch.”
After being blanked 7-0 in Monday’s series opener, the Yankees bounced back with 20 runs on 28 hits across the final two games. The offensive outburst showed the resilience that has defined their season.
Yankees eye crucial Baltimore series ahead
Only 10 games remain in the regular season, making each one crucial. The Yankees now head to Baltimore for a four-game series against the Orioles beginning Thursday night.
The quick turnaround and travel schedule hasn’t shaken this team. The Yankees are in the midst of a 10-day, 10-game road trip and have responded to adversity with confidence. Grisham’s big night was just the latest example of a player stepping up when the team needed it most.
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