Seattle – What started as a delightful victory for the Yankees took a somber turn in the ninth inning on Monday night.
Oswald Cabrera managed to score on a sacrifice fly, but, unfortunately, he seemed to sustain a serious foot injury that necessitated an ambulance for his transport from the field, with his left foot affected.
The spry third baseman had to dodge the catcher to avoid being tagged out. However, upon trying to return to the plate, it seemed as though his ankles twisted oddly.
He made it back to home plate but crashed down, his legs bending awkwardly. Trainer Tim Rentach rushed over to assist him.
A medical worker promptly called for an ambulance, and Cabrera, clearly in pain, collapsed onto the ground while Rentich attended to him.
In the dugout, the Yankees watched in concern, many visibly shaken.
This harsh injury overshadowed what was otherwise an 11-5 win against the Mariners, marked by a six-run inning.
The frame opened with Trent Grisham smacking a home run and wrapped up with Austin Wells hitting a three-run shot. This marked the fourth straight game where the Yankees (24-17) recorded five or more runs in an inning.
They managed this feat twice the previous day against the Athletics, managing to score over five runs six times in their last six games.
On Monday, the Yankees turned a 2-1 deficit into a 7-2 lead, clinching their fifth win in six outings.
Overall, they have scored 39 runs in the first four games of this road trip, their first three games being in a triple-A stadium known for wind issues.
Every Yankee player hit at least once, contributing to a total of 15 runs over their six games, achieving double digits for the ninth time this season—the best mark in MLB.
This strong performance provided plenty of support for Clarke Schmidt, who did give up a solo home run in the first three innings but limited other hits to six over his outing (he exited afterward).
Schmidt’s third consecutive solid start showed promise, allowing just four runs in 17 innings, possibly securing him a role as a reliable third starter behind Max Fried and Carlos Rodon.
The Mariners did attempt to make a comeback when Cal Lowry closed the gap to 8-5 in the eighth inning with a two-run shot off Tim Hill. Nonetheless, Anthony Volpe quickly responded with a two-run blast of his own.
Grisham continued his impressive performance, hitting his 11th and 12th home runs of the season. His first homer tied the game at 1-1 in the third inning, with center fielder Julio Rodriguez mishandling the catch, allowing the ball to sail over the wall.
His second home run initiated a series of five consecutive hits for the Yankees, sending them on a game-defining inning. Aaron Judge had a strong appearance, going 2-3 with two walks and raising his batting average to .414.
Paul Goldschmidt and Cody Bellinger followed suit, contributing consecutive RBI singles to elevate the Yankees to a 4-2 lead.
In a critical inning, Wells delivered his eighth home run, extending the Yankees’ lead to 7-2.
During the fifth inning, Schmidt did just what was needed, retiring the Mariners on just eight pitches, keeping the Yankees’ momentum intact.
The Yankees then added a crucial insurance run through smart base running and situational hitting. Goldschmidt started with a single, advanced with Volpe’s single, and scored on Wells’ sacrifice fly.
Initially struggling, Schmidt hit the first two batters he faced but managed to secure the necessary outs, albeit giving up a home run to Rodriguez that gave the Mariners a brief 1-0 lead.
After an uninspiring start, Schmidt faced additional threats in two more innings but found relief when Leodi Taveras executed a sacrifice bunt, allowing him to move a runner up and regain control.
