The Yankees recently honored their 2000 World Series team, a nod to a squad that, at the end of their regular season, had a rough stretch, losing 15 of their last 18 games. As the postseason arrived, it was a different vibe; I guess you could say I kicked off my crutches and went for the win.
It was clear at the ballpark that challenging moments don’t just arise during certain seasons—they can happen anytime.
“We’re definitely looking for that kind of streak,” noted Aaron Boone, reflecting on the tough months they’ve had.
On Old Timers’ Day, fans were treated to some nostalgia with alumni games and familiar faces around the Bronx.
After some pre-game celebrations, the Yankees took an early lead, but like clockwork, they lost it. Trent Grisham hit a crucial home run to put the Astros ahead 5-4, in front of over 45,000 fans, commemorating the 2000 Yankees.
With a record of 62-55, they’ve only won two of their last eight. They have a chance to recover from two series losses with an upcoming decisive game.
Kamilo Doval struggled a bit, and some shaky defense contributed to a two-run cushion the Yankees almost squandered in the eighth inning. Grisham’s timely swing in that inning really shifted the momentum.
With the game wobbly just moments ago, Bednar was called to secure the final five outs, finishing strong.
The Yankees’ collapse appeared to be on the menu once more in the eighth. Doval faced a one-out situation yet mismanaged a throw, which shifted the momentum towards the Astros.
Jose Altuve capitalized, sending a single that led to a bit of chaos, allowing runners to advance. A previously routine play didn’t materialize as expected, raising eyebrows.
Doval’s walk loaded the bases, leading Boone to deploy Bednar for another shot at a five-out save.
Bednar initially went ahead of Christian Walker but failed to close it out, with two runs crossing the plate following steady hits, tying the game.
The Yankees’ lineup, featuring stars like Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, hit well against Astros’ pitcher Framber Valdes, managing multiple runs and drawing walks in the early innings.
They struck first; with key hits from Paul Goldschmidt, Judge, and Cody Bellinger, Stanton drove in the first run. Yet, Houston soon leveled the score.
As the fifth rolled around, things got chaotic again. Judge walked, but Valdes got called for a pitch clock violation, which added to the tension. Bellinger then helped load the bases, and Stanton hit a pivotal ground ball to drive in another run, adding some breathing room.
Lewis Gill had a bit of rough start, giving up an early home run but settled in afterwards.
He managed to strike out several batters, allowing just six hits over five innings while conserving pitch count since the bullpen was already strained.
