Yankees Stage Improbable Comeback, Walk-Off Padres in 10

The New York Yankees earned an impressive comeback, walk-off win against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday night in the Bronx. Between strong moments from Trent Grisham and Devin Williams, everything led up to a J.C. Escarra game-winning sacrifice fly, keeping them strongly atop the American League East.

Yankees Stage Comeback and Walk-Off Padres

After Dylan Cease carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning, the Yankees were staring at a loss, but they never gave up. With one out in the bottom of the 7th, Cody Bellinger stepped up to the plate. He was down 0-2 before Cease tested him with a 98 mph fastball just above the zone. He absolutely blasted it into the second deck for his 5th home run of the season. He broke up the no-hitter and shutout, and tied the game all with one swing. The comeback was on.

The Padres clapped back, scoring two in the 8th thanks to Jackson Merrill and Xander Bogaerts, but the Yankees were unfazed. After Oswaldo Cabrera walked to open the bottom of the 8th, manager Aaron Boone sent Grisham up in place of Jorbit Vivas. Fresh off the bench, Grisham made his impact and crushed his 10th homer of the year, a 1-2 changeup from Jason Adam. He immediately put his head down and started jogging as the ball landed on the second deck again.

It was extras where the tension was palpable as Williams entered in the top of the 10th. He has had a rough go of it for the Yankees so far, and it started to spell much of the same at first. With the ghost runner on second, he strikes out Fernando Tatis Jr, but Brandon Lockridge steals third before Luis Arraez walks. Williams strikes out Manny Machado for out number two, but hits Merrill to load the bases. The game on the line, Williams digs deep and strikes out Bogaerts with his nasty changeup, roaring with the crowd. Now, it’s the Yankees’ turn to win it.

In the bottom of the 10th, Cabrera bunts Jasson Domínguez to third and sets up pinch hitter Escarra for his moment. With a 2-2 count, he lofts a fastball from Jeremiah Estrada that finds the glove of left field Jason Heyward. It didn’t matter, however, as it’s deep enough and Domínguez scampers home with the winning run. It was Escarra’s first walk-off. 

The Bombers

The Bronx Bombers have taken a commanding lead in the American League East, sitting two and a half games ahead of the second-place Boston Red Sox. It’s been an up-and-down season for the Yanks, and the fans have been giving it to them left and right. Even without Juan Soto, they have seemed to have found their footing and are starting to really come together as a team.