TAMPA — In a thrilling night at Steinbrenner Field, the New York Yankees managed to avoid a disastrous loss against the Tampa Bay Rays, ultimately winning 6-4. The Yankees extended their winning streak to five games, thanks to a dramatic performance in the 10th inning, highlighted by home runs from Giancarlo Stanton and Austin Wells.
The game took a nail-biting turn when David Bednar surrendered a two-run lead in the bottom of the ninth inning. However, the Yankees rallied back in the 10th. Stanton, who has been on fire lately, pinch-hit to open the inning and launched a two-run homer into left field off Pete Fairbanks. Wells followed suit, hitting his second home run of the night, which provided crucial insurance for Devin Williams as the Yankees took a commanding 6-3 lead.
Though Williams encountered trouble in the bottom of the 10th after allowing a single and a double, he displayed remarkable composure by striking out Chandler Simpson, Yandy Diaz, and Brandon Lowe in succession. This marked Williams' first save since July 29, showcasing his vital role in the Yankees' efforts. Manager Aaron Boone praised the team’s resilience, stating, “Incredible… finishing off a great road trip into an important homestand.”
With this victory, the Yankees improved their record to 69-57, positioning themselves just four games behind the first-place Toronto Blue Jays in the AL East. They also lead the Boston Red Sox by 1.5 games and the Seattle Mariners by two games for the top AL wild-card spot. “Great road trip,” Stanton remarked, noting his recent success with 14 home runs over the last 31 games. “It’s good to take this into the weekend.”
On the pitching front, Cam Schlittler impressed fans and analysts alike by taking a perfect game into the seventh inning. Despite allowing a single to Simpson to break the bid, Schlittler finished with 6.2 shutout innings and eight strikeouts, dominating the Rays with his high-90s fastball and effective curveball. “The mistakes I’ve made in the past were getting too comfortable with the offspeed early and not really making them hit the fastball first,” Schlittler explained. His ability to go deep into the game was crucial for keeping the bullpen fresh as the Yankees head into what he called “probably the biggest series of the year.”
When Schlittler's perfect game came to an end, the Yankees' lead was in jeopardy. Luke Weaver stepped in to relieve Schlittler with the bases loaded and managed to strike out Hunter Feduccia on just three pitches, averting disaster. Later, after Trent Grisham hit a home run to push the Yankees up 3-0, the pressure mounted when Weaver allowed a solo shot to Bob Seymour in the eighth inning. The ninth inning saw Bednar nearly close out the game before a two-run double from Feduccia tied things up.
With this thrilling performance, the Yankees are not just celebrating a win; they are also building momentum as they prepare for an important four-game series against the Boston Red Sox back in The Bronx. Boone emphasized the team’s confidence, saying, “We’ve never lost confidence… It’s there to be had. We haven’t done anything yet.” The Yankees' recent success could be the catalyst they need to push further into the postseason race.
