After clinching the American League East the night before, the Yanks rested the heart of their order in Aaron Judge, Austin Wells, and Giancarlo Stanton — and still were on the way to a win — but pulled defeat from the mouth of victory.
Jazz Chisholm Jr.singled in 2 runs in the 5th to give NY a 2-0 lead, and Anthony Volpe hit a shot to center with bases loaded and 2 out that would have broken the game open — but it stayed up and was caught on a line drive by Pittsburgh’s centerfielder.
Given a 2-0 lead, Carlos Rodon gave up homer balls to the first 2 batters of the 6th to tie the game, and Tommy Kahnle gave up a 2-run homer in the 8th for the 4-2 Pittsburgh win. After Volpe’s line out, the last 12 Yankees were retired in order in the 7th thru 9th innings. Manager Aaron Boone never pinch hit Judge or Wells or Giancarlo.
On an overcast Friday night at Yankee Stadium with an occasional light shower, the forefront of Hurricane Helene coming up the coast and crushing North Carolina with rains earlier in the day.
The Yanks are hunting the best record in the American League — and gained there as Cleveland lost to Houston. So NY’s magic number for best record in the AL drops to 1.
“Yep,” said manager Aaron Boone afterwards about being tempted to pinch hit Judge, Stanton, or Wells late in the game. “But unless we put together a rally with some traffic I really valued having those guys down today. But it was tempting yes.”
NY is now 93-67; Pittsburgh improves to 75-85.
1. Chisholm Puts Yanks on Top; Volpe ‘Almost’
Pittsburgh started Jared Jones, a 23-year-old, 6’1 righty who has done well as a rookie, entering with a 6-8 4.14 record. Jones was the #3 prospect in the Pittsburgh organization and #60 in the MLB entering the season. He was tough, shutting the Yanks out through the first 4 innings. Jazz Chisholm Jr. had his number though — ripping a 2-out double in the 1st as NY’s #3 hitter in the lineup, replacing Judge.
The Yanks almost got to Jones in the 3rd — Gleyber Torres and Juan Soto with back-to-back singles bringing up Jazz Chisholm — who lined out to right. Jones then proceeded to strike out Jasson Rodriguez to end the 3rd and strike out the side 1-2-3 in the 4th.
NY got to Jones in the 5th — Jose Trevino led off with a single, Oswaldo Cabrera doubled to right, Gleyber Torres grounded out not advancing anyone, but Juan Soto walked to load the bases with 1 out.
Jazz Chisholm Jr.was due up so Pittsburgh brought in reliever Joey Wentz, and Chisholm ripped a single to center for 2 runs. NY 2 Pittsburgh 0.
Music to our ears ? pic.twitter.com/m7kSoITWiC
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) September 28, 2024
After the Chisholm single, The Martian walked to load the bases, but Alex Verdugo flied out to center and Anthony Volpe hit a 2-out SHOT to center which John Sterling on the radio called like it would be a hit — but it stayed up and was caught by centerfielder Billy Cook.
2. Rodon Brilliant, Until the 2 HR Balls
Carlos Rodon picked up where Gerrit Cole left off the night before — again, as he had done his last start — pitching a shutout through 5 innings.
Carlos Rodón‘s 3Ks in the 1st. pic.twitter.com/9rrwvUKNlL
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 27, 2024
Rodon was helped by his Defense. Jazz Chisholm Jr.made a spectacular play in the 4th, snaring a liner down 3rd and making an AMAZING throw to 1st for the out.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. makes the play with his ROCKET arm! ?#YANKSonYES pic.twitter.com/oWikFrq4UG
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) September 28, 2024
And Jose Trevino took his spinach before the game — throwing out 2 baserunners — one to end the 3rd…
Got ’em ? pic.twitter.com/35KqGHKzh6
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) September 27, 2024
and one in the 5th.
Trevi to Torres ? pic.twitter.com/IYExOSnIyZ
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) September 28, 2024
But given a 2-0 lead in the 5th (which was ‘this close’ to being a 4-0 lead), Rodon immediately coughed it up — allowing:
- A 370-foot solo homer to left center off an 86-MPH slider to shortstop Nick Gonzalez leading off the 6th, and
- A 379-foot solo homer to right center off a 96-MPH fastball to next batter Bryan Reynolds.
Rodon got a groundout for the 1st out of the 6th, then was removed at 95 pitches for Ian Hamilton who got the last 2 outs of the inning — one on a sparking defensive play by Gleyber Torres up the middle.
Rodon’s line: 5.1 IP, 4 hits, 2 runs, 5 K’s, 4 walks.
“He pitches up in the zone with the fastball,” said Boone when asked about Rodon’s tendency to give up homer balls. “Guys cheat to that; sell out. I feel like he’s done a good job lately of managing that a little bit. But overall I thought he threw the ball pretty well tonight and finished off what was an outstanding regular season for him.”
3. Kahnle Coughs Up 2-Run HR in 8th
Clay Holmes pitched a 1-2-3 shutout 7th — a line out by old friend Isiah Kiner-Falefa and 2 groundouts — so that was good to see.
But Tommy Kahnle gave up a leadoff single in the 8th, and then a 1-out, 421-foot Homer to center by Bryan Reynolds and Pittsburgh was on top 4-2.
Scott Effross got the last out of the 8th and pitched a shutout 9th — some more good news.
4. NY Goes Down 1-2-3 in the Late Innings
The Volpe line drive that almost broke the game open in the 5th was it for the Yankee offense. The last 13 Yankee batters (including Volpe) made out.
- Wentz and Colin Holderman combined for a 1-2-3 shutout 7th.
- Carmen Mlodzinski pitched a 1-2-3 shutout 8th, and
- Old friend Aroldis Chapman pitched a 1-2-3 shutout 9th, striking out Oswaldo Cabrera for the old ballgame.
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