Two Yankees players who were off to a slow start are beginning to pick up the pace.
Ryan McMahon and Jazz Chisholm Jr. made a significant impact in Tuesday’s game, contributing to the Yankees’ fifth consecutive win, finishing 7-4 against the Rangers in the Bronx.
After an early deficit, McMahon hit a two-run homer that tied the game against Jacob deGrom, followed by Chisholm launching a deep shot that secured the lead. Cody Bellinger helped extend the lead with a two-run double, and Paul Goldschmidt added a solo home run. The Yankees now stand at 25 wins and 11 losses, marking 15 victories in their last 17 games.
Manager Aaron Boone’s team is performing well across the board, with solid pitching and defense. In Tuesday’s game, the bullpen played a crucial role, with Brent Headrick, Fernando Cruz, and David Bednar effectively managing to prevent scoring opportunities for the Rangers (16-19).
The contributions from McMahon and Chisholm are especially encouraging, as both had been struggling earlier in the season.
McMahon, who went 2-for-4, evened the score at 3-3 in the second inning with his third homer of the season after a tough eight-pitch at-bat against deGrom. His early stats showed promise, hitting .304 (14-for-46) with an OPS of .877, but he had been lesser known as the bottom of the lineup, struggling with a .119 average (5-for-42).
Chisholm managed to hit a 413-foot homer in the sixth inning, flipping his bat dramatically. After not hitting any home runs in his first 23 games and maintaining a batting average of .173, post-April 22, he seems to be performing better with 13 hits in 45 at-bats (.289) and a .908 OPS.
Bellinger also shined, hitting his second double of the game in the seventh, right after the Rangers intentionally walked Aaron Judge. This key hit further padded the Yankees’ lead to 6-3.
Meanwhile, rookie pitcher Elmer Rodriguez faced challenges, potentially marking his last start before returning from the disabled list. His latest outing saw him give up three runs in just 4.3 innings. He struggled notably with walks, issuing four free passes in this game, adding to the difficulties he faced in his previous start.
Rodriguez’s early struggles were evident as he walked the first two batters, leading to an early deficit for the Yankees. In the first inning, Joc Pederson loaded the bases before a sacrifice fly put the Rangers on the board. A former Yankees prospect added to the lead with a hit, before Rodriguez’s slider allowed another score, ending the inning after 37 pitches.
The Yankees did respond quickly, reclaiming one run in the bottom of the first with back-to-back doubles from Judge and Bellinger, narrowing the score to 3-1.
