Austin Wells Grand Slam Wins Michael King-Schmidt Duel. NY 12 SD 3

May 7, 2025 paperbacklou 2025 0
Austin Wells Grand Slam makes it 12-3 NY.

Former Yankee Michael King — who San Diego insisted NY trade them in the Juan Soto deal — matched up against Clarke Schmidt — who rumors said the Yanks were trying to trade in his place — and the two dueled to a 2-2 tie into the 7th inning.

In the 7th, San Diego scored a run against the Yankee pen of Tim Hill and Fernando Cruz, but in the bottom of the 7th, NY scored 10 runs off the Padres pen to win 12-3.

Austin Wells started the Yankee scoring in the 7th with a clutch RBI single to tie the score, then came around again later in the inning and hit a Grand Slam to top it off.

Earlier, in the 4th, Aaron Judge hit a solo homer off Michael King to plate the first Yankee run, making it 2-1 San Diego at the time.

“A lot of fun,” said Clarke Schmidt afterwards when asked about pitching against King. “Obviously a lot easier playing with him that competing against him. Great pitcher; great person. I can’t speak highly enough of him and everything he’s done for this organization and for myself. We’re both very competitive; it’s like playing one of your brothers in the backyard.”

“At first I checked the app to see who was pitching against me, I think it was TBD,” added Schmidt. “He texted me right after the news, and said ‘I see you’re going to face me’, and my reply is ‘I guess I have to lock in a little bit more now.’ I definitely got excited. Like I said it’s like playing your brother; you definitely want to go out there and get bragging rights. I don’t know what the lines were — I think they were very similar. We’ll play for the tie on that — I guess we’ll give the win to Judge, because he got to him.”

NY improves to 20-16 and are incredibly 2.5 games in 1st place in the AL East — currently the worst division in baseball with all other clubs under .500. San Diego falls to 23-12, in 2nd place in the NL West, .5 behind the Dodgers.

1. King vs Schmidt

Michael King was becoming an Ace in 2023 after coming up through the Yankee system. After blowing through the minor leagues, the Yanks used him as a setup man before he talked Aaron Boone into letting him start. He went 9-4 2.75 for the Yanks in 2023 after being an ace setup man for NY in 2022 — and San Diego insisted him as their main target in the trade of Juan Soto to NY.

The press reported that the Yankees tried to entire San Diego to take Clarke Schmidt instead. Schmidt is also a good young pitcher but the Padres insisted on King. San Diego also got Jhonny Bones and elite prospect Drew Thorpe (who is out with Tommy John surgery), while the Yanks also got Trent Grisham.

The trade has worked out for both teams. Soto helped the Yanks to the World Series last year, before leaving to the Mets via free agency. King is now regarded one of the best pitchers in baseball, going 13-9 2.95 for San Diego last year, and 4-1 2.22 so far this year. He will be a free agent at the end of this year.

Grisham has done great for NY as their part-time centerfielder.

And Clarke Schmidt has become a mainstay in the Yankee rotation, going 5-5 2.85 last year and 0-1 4.79 this year after missing most of Spring training and starting the season in mid April.

2. Schmidt: 6 Innings, 2 Runs

The duel wasn’t really talked about much — but it was a good one. The score was 0-0 through 3 innings, with Schmidt using his wicked knuckle curve and other arsenal of pitches to shut San Diego down.

But in the 4th, Schmidt balked first — literally.

He allowed consecutive singles to start the top of the 4th (Manny Machado and Merrill), got Xander Bogaerts to fly out, then walked  Sheets to load the bases, and balked in a run.

Heyward hit a sac fly to left to make it 2-0 San Diego before Schmidt got a pop out to end the inning.

After that Schmidt pitched a shutout 5th (allowing a single then picking off the runner) and 1-2-3 shutout 6th. His line: 6 IP, 7 H, 2 runs, 4 K’s, 1 walk.

3. King: 6 Innings, 2 Runs

King dueled Schmidt with a shutout into the 3rd, and after Schmidt allowed 2 runs in the top of the 4th — King allowed 2 runs in the bottom of the 4th.

Judge HR Dents King

Aaron Judge started the Yankee scoring with a Homer to right.

Next batter Cody Bellinger walked, and scored on a single to right by Jasson Dominguez that Fernando Tatis Jr. overthrew to 3rd.

After that King settled down and retired the next 8 batters, pitching a 1-2-3 shutout 5th and 6th. His line: 6 IP, 3 Hits, 2 Runs, 2 K’s, 2 walks.

4. Padres Take 2-1 Lead in 7th

Tim Hill has not been lights out in his last few appearances, and that was true again in this game as he allowed a leadoff single to start the 7th, then another single after getting a pop out.

NY brought in Fernando Cruz and he got a lineout to Anthony Volpe at shortstop, but allowed an RBI double to Fernando Tatis Jr. to give San Diego a 3-2 lead.

5. Yankees Score 10 in 7th Topped by Wells Slam

A Morejon relieved King to start the bottom of the 7th and the Yankees pounced.

Jasson Dominguez doubled to left, Anthony Volpe singled to center, and Austin Wells tied the game with a line single down the right field line.

Oswaldo Cabrera fouled out but Paul Goldschmidt was intentionally walked to load the bases — and San Diego brought in old friend Wandy Peralta.

It was not Peralta’s night.

Grisham the Game-Winning RBI Walk

Trent Grisham (remember him?) worked a 4-pitch walk — scoring Volpe for a 4-3 Yankee lead.

Ben Rice ripped a double to right and NY had a 6-3 lead.

Cody Bellinger singled to right, scoring Grisham and it was 7-3 NY.

Jasson Dominguez flied out but Anthony Volpe ripped a single past shortstop into left for an 8-3 NY lead.

That brought up Austin Wells for the 2nd time in the inning — and he put the game away with a Grand Slam to right.

6. Mantzek & de Los Santos Finish Up

With NY up 12-3, Tyler Matzek pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the 8th, and de Los Santos pitched a shutout 9th — Oswald Peraza made an error at 2nd with 2 outs, but Fernando Tatis Jr. grounded out to Volpe at shortstop for the old ballgame.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401695437

 

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