Yankees Hold Off Tigers with Late Comeback

DETROIT — Cody Bellinger continues to be a key player for the Yankees, making his mark almost every game.

This time, it was his arm that stole the spotlight.

During the fourth inning, Bellinger made an impressive 95.5 mph throw from left field to home plate, perfectly hitting the target and preventing a runner from scoring. Ultimately, the Yankees came from behind to secure a 4-3 victory against the Tigers at Comerica Park.

Carlos Rodon, who pitched for the Yankees, remarked, “What a great pitch.” He expressed surprise at the decision to send the runner, praising Bellinger’s defensive skills. “Cody has good hands. He’s a great defender,” Rodon added, noting how Bellinger executed the throw flawlessly.

At the time, the Tigers were up 2-1, and there was a genuine threat of them extending that lead. With Riley Greene on second and two outs, Haoyu Lee hit a single that seemed promising. But Bellinger quickly fielded it, and Austin Wells made an excellent play at the plate to tag Greene out.

“I just wanted to take a good step, set my feet, and make a good throw,” Bellinger commented. “It was a good pitch, but Wells did a fantastic job getting the ball and making the tag swiftly.”

In the sixth inning, Wells extended the Yankees’ lead to 4-2 with an RBI double off Tyler Holton, breaking his 0-for-18 slump, which dated back before his stint on the disabled list.

“I made a solid swing after a tough at-bat,” Bellinger said, emphasizing Wells’ importance to the team. “We’re thrilled to have him back.”

This marked Wells’ second start since his earlier health issues following a neck ailment.

The Yankees were in a bit of flux regarding their catcher position; Ali Sanchez had been placed on the paternity list, with J.C. Escala stepping in. Fortunately, it seems Sanchez may avoid the injured list after enduring a mishap with a 98 mph fastball hitting his wrist. X-rays were negative, much to the relief of Coach Boone.

“Once the tests are complete, we hope he can return later this week,” Boone said hopefully.

In another update, the Yankees recently signed an 18-year-old right-hander, Chen-Fang Lai from Taiwan, marking a significant addition to their roster. While it wasn’t entirely clear which scouting ratings were referenced, Lai is noted to be highly regarded.

Standing at 6 feet and weighing 180 pounds, Lai becomes only the third Taiwanese player to join the Yankees’ ranks. He’ll soon head to the team’s Dominican Summer League Academy to start his professional journey.

Mario Garza, the new head of international scouting, emphasized the club’s commitment to scouting talent from Taiwan and Asia more generally. “Cheng Fan’s signing shows our intent,” he stated. He described Lai as a confident player with a strong passion for the game.

Garza also highlighted Lai’s varied pitching capabilities, suggesting his fastball and off-speed pitches will lend themselves well to development within the Yankees’ system.

Meanwhile, Ryan McMahon was expected to start at third base but had to sit out due to an ear and throat infection he’s been dealing with.

Manager Boone hoped at least to have him off the bench, but instead, he shifted Jose Caballero from shortstop to third and brought Anthony Volpe into the lineup. Volpe played well, contributing two singles to help secure the win.