Everything kicked off with Luis Garcia Jr. hitting his second double of the game, which hit hard against the right-field wall.
There was a bit of luck involved as well—Austin Wells had a flyout to shallow right-center that somehow slipped past the Mariners’ glove.
For the first time in quite a while, the Yankees really made some solid contact. You know, that classic ball trajectory from pitcher to batter that older folks often reminisce about. It felt nostalgic.
On Tuesday, in front of a packed crowd of 41,407 in the Bronx, the Yankees’ previously struggling batting lineup finally came alive. They managed five hits and a walk, scoring four runs in the seventh inning to pull off a 4-1 comeback win against the Mariners.
“We’ve still got a long way to go,” manager Aaron Boone noted after the Yankees (67-52) secured their third win in four games. Interestingly, this was the only game decided by a single run. “But I hope this is a step toward the offense we’re capable of.”
Many recent games have felt a bit repetitive, characterized by solid Yankees pitching but lackluster hitting, leading to late-game tension where neither team could establish a clear lead.
The game started off sluggishly, with the Yankees down 1-0 after 6.5 innings due to a sixth-inning homer from Ryan Weathers that found its way to Randy Arozarena. The Yankees had only managed three hits up to that point, and none could get anyone in scoring position.
Things shifted when Seattle’s starter Brian Wu was taken out. Garcia led off with a convincing double against right-hander Michael Rucker. Jazz Chisholm Jr., who’s been having a rough season, managed to find a gap on the right side of the infield, putting runners on the corners.
After George Lombard Jr. struck out, it looked like it might be another tough inning. But then Spencer Jones walked, setting the stage for Ryan McMahon, who, against all odds, hit a two-run blast into left, flipping a one-run deficit into a one-run advantage.
“I just focused on sticking to my approach,” McMahon said after notching his 500th career RBI with that curveball. “It felt great to seize the moment.”
Wells then loaded the bases with a single before Trent Grisham found a similar spot as McMahon did, adding two more runs with his single placed perfectly between the third baseman and shortstop.
Suddenly, the Yankees were back in the game, taking the lead and finally registering a substantial inning. It had been over a week since they scored more than two runs in a single frame, the last notable instance being a loss to the Cardinals.
Boone remarked on the Yankees’ offensive effort, saying, “There were a lot of tough at-bats.” This marked only the third time in the last 11 games that the Yankees scored three or more runs (surprisingly, they’ve clinched six wins during that stretch).
“This buildup is crucial,” McMahon added, reflecting on the offensive output. “It was how we scored, but there’s still room to improve.”
Despite the positive inning, the Yankees managed to score in just seven frames overall. They squandered chances in the first inning as well as a one-out double in the third, but their typical strong pitching carried them through.
After Weathers’ strong showing, Tim Hill gathered four groundouts, Brent Headrick struck out two batters in a perfect eighth inning, and David Bednar got his 27th save with a bit of help from Chisholm, who limped off after hurting his ankle but still managed to make an impressive play for a groundout at second base.
Outside of that one problematic inning, the game plan relied heavily on stellar pitching, which remained mostly untouchable.
Part of this strategy has seen the Yankees accustomed to tight ballgames, which could work in their favor come October.
“Let’s hope this experience pays off down the road,” Boone commented after the come-from-behind win.
