If Curtis Meade, the White Sox third baseman, had managed to field the sharp hit from Giancarlo Stanton, the Yankees would likely have ended the inning with a double play and maintained a two-run lead.
But that didn’t happen, and the Yankees capitalized on the opportunity.
This unexpected gift from a struggling team allowed them to stay competitive.
The Red Sox, meanwhile, weren’t able to gain ground on the Blue Jays, who avoided a sweep that night.
Consequently, the Yankees remained in a tie with Toronto in the AL East following their 5-3 win at home, witnessed by a crowd of 38,545 eager fans anticipating a playoff push.
The Yankees, now at 91-68, have three games remaining against the Orioles, while the Blue Jays are set to play against the Rays. If Aaron Boone’s team wants to take control of the division and bypass the first round, they really need to break free from the tie.
The Blue Jays won eight out of 13 matchups this season, giving them the tiebreaker advantage. Still, the Yankees have kept up momentum, winning five straight and eight of their last games.
There were questions about whether the Yankees could maintain the pressure on Thursday. They did so, primarily because the White Sox defense faltered while the Yankees executed their plays effectively.
The game shifted to the fifth inning with the Yankees down 3-1.
Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger each had singles that chased Chicago starter Davis Martin from the mound, forcing Tyler Gilbert to take over. With Judge on base, Gilbert walked Ben Rice, filling the bases for Stanton.
Meade attempted to field a 109 mph grounder with a backhand, but the effort backfired, sending the ball into left field and allowing the Yankees to take the lead.
They maintained this advantage thanks to a stellar defensive play by Bellinger in the eighth inning.
As two Yankees crossed home plate, Devin Williams walked a White Sox batter, setting the stage for Miguel Vargas’ deep drive to left field.
But Bellinger was quick on his feet, making an impressive running catch to keep the game intact.
Later, Austin Wells hit an RBI double that added crucial insurance runs, and the trio of Luke Weaver, Williams, and David Bednar combined for three scoreless innings, with Bednar securing his ninth save.
Despite loading the bases without any outs in the first inning, the Yankees struggled to seize significant opportunities, scoring only once.
Yet, Stanton’s hit opened the door.
Rodon, now with 18 wins in his 33 starts this season, wasn’t at his best. He allowed three runs on four hits over four innings but still managed five strikeouts, marking his 200th of the season.
