2-Run HR by Campusano Knocks Yanks Out in Bottom of 10th. SD 3 NY 2

September 5, 2026 paperbacklou 2026 0
Spencer Jones go-ahead RBI single in top of 10th against fireballer Ace Mason Miller.

Spencer Jones singled in the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th against Ace fireballer Mason Miller, and Paul Blackburn struck out Xander Boegarts to start the bottom of the inning causing the inherited runner to be stuck on 2nd. NY seemed on its way to a possible win.

But catcher Luis Campusano hit a first-pitch, 94-MPH sinker from Blackburn way over the left field fence and just like that the Yankees lost, 3-2, on a Friday night in San Diego.

Earlier, Max Fried and old Yankee nemesis Walker Buehler dueled into the 6th inning in a 1-1 tie, and then both teams’ bullpens pitched shutout ball sending the game to the 10th tied 1-1.

Ben Rice got the Yankee run with a HR in the 3rd to tie the game.

Will Warren came out of the Yankee pen to throw 2.1 shutout, no-hit innings — so that was a great takeaway for Yankee fans.

Trent Grisham pulled his hamstring in the 5th trying to steal 2nd base — and was replaced in center by Spencer Jones.

“Have all the confidence in the world in Paul,” said manager Aaron Boone afterwards about Blackburn. “Makes a big pitch to Bogaerts, and then probably wanted to get the sinker a bit more in, but also Campusano puts a really good swing on it. It’s part of it. We have a quick turnaround and have to get after it tomorrow.”

NY falls to 80-61, and fall to 4 behind Tampa and are now 3.5 ahead of Boston. San Diego improves to 74-67.

1. Fried Good

Max Fried started for the Yankees and was good: 5.2 innings of 4-hit, 1-run ball, striking out 4 and walking 1.

He pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the 1st, but allowed a run in the 2nd — a leadoff double by Ty France who is having a bang-up year, then a 2-out RBI single by Xander Bogaerts for a 1-0 Padre lead.

After that Fried pitched shutout ball into the 6th — when he was relieved after getting the first 2 batters of the inning because he reached his pitch count of 72 pitches and Ty France was due up again.

2. Buehler Tough — with Help from Campusano

The Padres started old Yankee nemesis Walker Buehler — the now 31-year-old, 6’2 righty who was once a dominant pitcher in the Dodger organization — going 14-4 3.26 in 2019 and 16-4-2.47 in 2021 before blowing out his arm midway thru the 2022 campaign.

Buehler was just coming back from Tommy John surgery in 2024 — and was only 1-6 5.38 during the regular season — when the Dodgers put him on their World Series roster and he started and pitched 5 shutout innings against NY in helping the Dodgers win game 3, 4-2 — then came in to get the final 3 outs and the save in the game 5 clincher as LA won 7-6.

The Dodgers then allowed Buehler to walk after the 2024 season — and the Red Sox signed him to a 2-year contract at $18M the first year and $3M the second year. But he wasn’t successful in Boston going 7-7 5.45 in 2025 before they released him in August.

The Phillies signed him for the end of the season and he did well — going 3-0 0.66 in 13 innings and 2 starts.

The Padres signed him last winter to a minor-league deal, and he has been pretty good this year — 8-6 4.56.

Buehler was tough — throwing a 95-MPH four-seam fastball and sinker, 87-MPH changeup, 88-MPH slider, 81-MPH sweeper, 91-MPH cutter, and 77-MPH knuckle curve.

He started the game with a 1-2-3 inning in the 1st, striking out Luis Garcia Jr. swinging at a slider and Spencer Jones swinging at a changeup.

Buehler got help from catcher Luis Campusano, who threw out 3 runners on the night — 2 for Buehler: Trent Grisham with 2 outs in the 2nd, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. after Buehler walked him leading off the 5th.

2. Rice HR Ties It 1-1 in 3rd

Ben Rice got to Buehler with a 444-foot BLAST off an 87-MPH slider with 2 outs in the top of the 3rd, tying the game 1-1.

4. Warren Great in Relief

Will Warren relieved Fried with 2 outs and nobody on in the 6th to face Ty France. He walked France but then got a groundout to end the inning, and proceeded to retire 7 in a row — pitching a 1-2-3 shutout 7th and 8th inning. Great News for NY as Warren will move to the bullpen for the playoffs.

5. Padre Pen Tough

Watch out for the Padres in the playoffs — their pen is tough. They trotted out the following pitchers to shut the Yanks out in the 6th thru 9th:

  • 30-year-old, 5’8 lefty Yuki Matsui — sporting a 1.95 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 61 K’s in 50 innings — pitched a shutout 6th — allowing just a 1-out single to Ben Rice.
  • 22-year-old, 6’1 stringbean (160 lbs) righty Bradgley Rodriguez — sporting a 1.99 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 68 K’s in 63 innings — pitched a shutout 1-2-3 7th, striking out a batter.
  • 27-year-old, 5’11 Cuban lefty Adrian Morejon — who sports a 2.74 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 93 K’s in 75 innings — came in and struck out the side 1-2-3 in the 8th.
  • 28-year-old, 6’5 righty Mason Miller — considered the best reliever in baseball with his 103-MPH fastball, 1.21 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, and 108 K’s in 50 innings — pitched the 9th and struck out the side 1-2-3.

6. Bednar Pitches Shutout 9th

David Bednar pitched the bottom of the 9th in the 1-1 game — and got the 1st out before allowing a double to — you guessed it Ty France.

But Bednar bared down and got a fly out and strikeout to end the inning and send it to extras.

7. Spencer Single Puts NY Up 2-1 in 10th

And in the top of the 10th, Spencer Jones ambushed Mason Miller by hitting a first-pitch, 100-MPH fastball for a single to center and 2-1 Yankee lead!

Miller then got 2 strikes on next batter Helios Ramos — and Spencer Jones was thrown out by Campusano trying to steal 3rd on a CLOSE play at 3rd. The Yankees did not challenge.

Miller then struck out Ramos and next-batter Jazz Chisholm Jr. to end the inning.

7. Campusano HR Off Blackburn Wins It

With Bednar having pitched the 9th, Paul Blackburn took the hill for the bottom of the 10th with the inherited runner on 2nd. Blackburn struck out Xavier Bogaerts so things were looking good for the Yanks. All Blackburn needed to do was get consecutive outs.

But Campusano ambushed him by hitting a first-pitch 94-MPH sinker WAY over the left field fence 394 feet away for a 2-run HR and the old ballgame.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401816810

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