Fried & Pen Off the Ropes for Pressure Win. NY 4 Toronto 3

September 8, 2025 paperbacklou 2025 0
Austin Wells throws out Toronto's Nathan Lukes for the 2nd out in the 9th.

Max Fried bounced off the ropes in the 3rd inning to go 7, and the Yankee pen of Devin Williams and David Bednar bounced off their own ropes in the 8th and 9th to squeeze out a dramatic 4-3 win over the Blue Jays on a beautiful Sunday afternoon at Yankee Stadium.

The day, which started off with rain all morning then cleared up into a beautiful 75-degree late summer day — was made even more beautiful after the win — which enabled NY to take 2 of 3 in the series and pull to within 2 of Toronto.

The Yankee pitchers were helped by a run-saving, diving catch by Aaron Judge to end the 4th, tremendous plays all game by Ryan McMahon at 3rd, and a quick-delivery, rifle-arm throw-out of a runner trying to steal 2nd in the 9th by Austin Wells.

The NY pitching and defense made a 3-run HR by Ben Rice in the bottom of the 1st, and an RBI double by Cody Bellinger in the 3rd stand up for the win — the Yankee offense only got 3 hits on the day against Max Scherzer and the Toronto pen.

“Feels good,” said manager Aaron Boone afterwards. “Definitely a good series for us into an off day.”

“They got a good lineup,” said Fried afterwards. “They got a good lineup; they run hard; they’re willing to take the extra bases. You have to make sure you make your pitches; you can’t leave a pitch over the middle to Vladdy there; he made a really good swing. Just had to keep mixing. Defense was really great behind me. Just one of those days where you give up a couple of runs but glad it was enough to edge it out and get the win.”

NY improves to 80-63 — pulling within 2 of Toronto and staying 1.5 ahead of Boston. Toronto falls to 82-59.

1. Rice HR Gives NY 3-0 Lead in 1st

Toronto started Max Scherzer, the 41-year-old future Hall of Famer who came in with a 5-2 4.11 record. The Yanks jumped on him in the bottom of the 1st — a 1-out walk by Aaron Judge, followed by a single to left by Cody Bellinger, and a 3-run HR to right by Ben Rice. Just like that — 3-0 Yankees.

2. Fried Shaky — Gives Back Lead & On the Ropes in 3rd

But Max Fried — after pitching a 1-2-3 inning in the 1st — got shaky in the 2nd. Alejandro Kirk led off with a walk, and Ernie Clement doubled to right to put runners on 2nd and 3rd with nobody out.

Fried got Ty France to pop out, but Isiah Kiner-Falefa singled in a run, and Nathan Lukes hit a sac fly for a 3-2 game. Anthony Volpe made a tremendous play in the hole between short and 3rd to end the inning.

Fried was right back on the ropes again in the top of the 3rd — a leadoff double by George Springer and an error by Anthony Volpe allowing Schneider to get on.

A double to left by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. tied the game and put runners on 2nd and 3rd with nobody out in a tie game 3-3. It looked like Fried was not going to last too much longer and the Yanks would soon be trailing — the only question was how much they would be trailing by.

But Fried got off the ropes — getting Kirk to ground out to Ben Rice at 1st — the runners having to hold at 2nd and 3rd, then getting Clement to hit a soft liner to short that Volpe made a diving catch on for a huge out, and getting Ty France to ground out to 1st. HUGE off the ropes performance by Fried.

3. NY Jumps Back on Top 4-3 in Bottom of 3rd

And then the Yanks jumped back on top against Scherzer minutes later — Aaron Judge worked a 1-out walk in the bottom of the 3rd, and Cody Bellinger followed by bouncing one off the wall in center for an RBI double. Just like that NY in the lead again — 4-3 — as the sun began to come out in NY from the grey clouds.

4. Judge Catch Saves Fried in 4th

Nathan Lukes reached on a dribbler with 1 out in the 4th — Austin Wells picking up the ball and throwing wide of 1st — Ben Rice unable to catch the ball (again) it went for an error on Austin Wells and Lukes was on 2nd.

But Fried struck out Miles Straw, then got some help from his friends — Aaron Judge in right making a diving catch on a liner by George Springer to end the inning and save a run!

5. Fried Settles Down — Goes 7

In the 5th, Fried allowed a 1-out single to Vlad Guerrero — but got Kirk to hit into a 5-4-3 inning-ending double play.

In the 6th, Fried got more help from his Defense — Ryan McMahon at 3rd with a tremendous play for the 2nd out of a 1-2-3 inning.

Fried pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the 7th — and left with NY up 4-3. He wins to go 16-5 3.02 — he is tied with Carlos Rodon for the most wins in the American League.

6. Devin Bounces Off Ropes in 8th

Devin Williams came in for the 8th — and bounced off his own ropes: infield single by Addison Barger, strike out of Vladimir Guerrero Jr., ground out of Kirk to 3rd, walk to Ernie Clement putting runners on 1st and 2nd — and groundout of Ty France to McMahon at 3rd.

7. Bednar Saves It with Help from Wells

The Yankee offense was stifled the rest of the way by Scherzer and the Toronto pen of and so it was to the 9th with David Bednar on the mound in a 4-3 game. Nail Biter.

Bednar got Daulton Varsho to fly out on 1 pitch, but Nathan Lukes singled to left on a 2-2, 97-MPH fastball.

Lukes tried to steal 2nd — but Austin Wells did like Thurman Munson — catching a pitch wide and quick-throwing a strike to 2nd to NAIL Lukes for the 2nd out. HUGE.

And then Bednar got the super fleet Miles Straw to ground the ball to McMahon at 3rd — who rifled him out for the old ballgame!

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401697051

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